Mrs.Peckover, with a very triumphant air, nodded and winked several times at Valentine across the table; desiring, by these signs, to show him that she could not only be silent herself when the conversation was in danger of approaching a forbidden subject, but could make other people hold their tongues too.
The room was now perfectly quiet, and the game at cribbage proceeded smoothly enough, but not so pleasantly as usual on other occasions.
Valentine did not regain his customary good spirits; and Mrs.Peckover relapsed into whispering discontentedly to herself--now and then looking towards the bookcase, where young Thorpe was sitting sleepily, with a volume of engravings on his knee.

It was, more or less, a relief to everybody when the supper-tray came up, and the cards were put away for the night.
Zack, becoming quite lively again at the prospect of a little eating and drinking, tried to return to the dangerous subject of the Hair Bracelet; addressing himself, on this occasion, directly to Valentine.

He was interrupted, however, before he had spoken three words.

Mr.Blyth suddenly remembered that he had an important communication of his own to make to young Thorpe.
"Excuse me, Zack," he said, "I have some news to tell you, which Mrs.
Peckover's arrival drove out of my head; and which I must mention at once, while I have the opportunity.

Both my pictures are done--what do you think of that ?--done, and in their frames.