CHAPTER VII.
CONTRAHE vela, Et te littoribus cymba propinqua vehat.*--SENECA.
* "Furl your sails, and let the next boat carry you to the shore." "HAS not Miss Cameron a beautiful countenance ?" said Mr.Merton to Maltravers, as Evelyn, unconscious of the compliment, sat at a little distance, bending down her eyes to Sophy, who was weaving daisy-chains on a stool at her knee, and whom she was telling not to talk loud,--for Merton had been giving Maltravers some useful information respecting the management of his estate; and Evelyn was already interested in all that could interest her friend.

She had one excellent thing in woman, had Evelyn Cameron: despite her sunny cheerfulness of temper she was _quiet_; and she had insensibly acquired, under the roof of her musing and silent mother, the habit of never disturbing others.

What a blessed secret is that in the intercourse of domestic life! "Has not Miss Cameron a beautiful countenance ?" Maltravers started at the question,--it was a literal translation of his own thought at that moment.

He checked the enthusiasm that rose to his lip, and calmly re-echoed the word,-- "Beautiful indeed!" "And so sweet-tempered and unaffected; she has been admirably brought up.

I believe Lady Vargrave is a most exemplary woman.