He made some trifling observation, and her reply was one in which nothing but an ear as acute as that of a lover, or a curious observer like myself, could have distinguished anything more cold and dry than usual.

But it conveyed reproof to the self-accusing hero, and he stood abashed accordingly.

You will admit that I was called upon in generosity to act as mediator.

So I mingled in the conversation, in the quiet tone of an unobserving and uninterested third party, led them into their former habits of easy chat, and, after having served awhile as the channel of communication through which they chose to address each other, set them down to a pensive game at chess, and very dutifully went to tease papa, who was still busied with his drawings.

The chess-players, you must observe, were placed near the chimney, beside a little work-table, which held the board and men, the Colonel at some distance, with lights upon a library table; for it is a large old-fashioned room, with several recesses, and hung with grim tapestry, representing what it might have puzzled the artist himself to explain.
'"Is chess a very interesting game, papa ?" '"I am told so," without honouring me with much of his notice.
'"I should think so, from the attention Mr.Hazlewood and Lucy are bestowing on it." 'He raised his head "hastily and held his pencil suspended for an instant.