And if Annabella knew the value of true wisdom, and the misery of folly and--and intemperance, she would not talk such nonsense--even in jest.' He raised his eyes while I spoke, and gravely turned them upon me, with a half-surprised, half-abstracted look, and then bent them on his wife.
'At least,' said she, 'I know the value of a warm heart and a bold, manly spirit.' 'Well, Annabella,' said he, in a deep and hollow tone, 'since my presence is disagreeable to you, I will relieve you of it.' 'Are you going back to them, then ?' said she, carelessly.
'No,' exclaimed he, with harsh and startling emphasis.

'I will not go back to them! And I will never stay with them one moment longer than I think right, for you or any other tempter! But you needn't mind that; I shall never trouble you again by intruding my company upon you so unseasonably.' He left the room: I heard the hall-door open and shut, and immediately after, on putting aside the curtain, I saw him pacing down the park, in the comfortless gloom of the damp, cloudy twilight.
'It would serve you right, Annabella,' said I, at length, 'if Lord Lowborough were to return to his old habits, which had so nearly effected his ruin, and which it cost him such an effort to break: you would then see cause to repent such conduct as this.' 'Not at all, my dear! I should not mind if his lordship were to see fit to intoxicate himself every day: I should only the sooner be rid of him.' 'Oh, Annabella!' cried Milicent.

'How can you say such wicked things! It would, indeed, be a just punishment, as far as you are concerned, if Providence should take you at your word, and make you feel what others feel, that--' She paused as a sudden burst of loud talking and laughter reached us from the dining-room, in which the voice of Hattersley was pre-eminently conspicuous, even to my unpractised ear.
'What you feel at this moment, I suppose ?' said Lady Lowborough, with a malicious smile, fixing her eyes upon her cousin's distressed countenance.
The latter offered no reply, but averted her face and brushed away a tear.

At that moment the door opened and admitted Mr.Hargrave, just a little flushed, his dark eyes sparkling with unwonted vivacity.
'Oh, I'm so glad you're come, Walter ?' cried his sister.

'But I wish you could have got Ralph to come too.' 'Utterly impossible, dear Milicent,' replied he, gaily.