Guy Trevelyan had not the keen glances of the secretary levelled at him now, else the puzzling expression that rested awhile upon his face would instantly have been detected.
"That is the great wonder," said the brother, drawing his sister nearer to his side, adding: "Well, my little sister, until _you_ have become weary of your brother's keeping he is anxious to claim the gracious liberty of possessing the love of one devoted heart.

What says _la belle_ Fanny ?" "Oh, Guy," cried Maude, "she was afraid that you may possibly have charitable intentions towards some fair one and wishes to make the test." "Why, Maude," exclaimed Fanny, "you are really in earnest; I shall begin to think, from the stand you have taken in the matter, that Guy had better beware, else ere long he will not be able to make such avowals to his sister." "Come, come, little mischief-maker, no jealousy," cried Captain Trevelyan, hastily drawing an arm of each within his own, and then they joined her ladyship in the shrubbery.
Fanny Trevelyan was truly in jest.

She had found that no real attachment was to be formed between her brother and friend.

There had arisen instead a tender familiarity, a friendship that is rare to be seen.
Maude Bereford had grown to treat Guy Trevelyan with brotherly kindness.
It pleased him to witness this feeling arising from disinterested friendship and motives of genuine purity.

Were it otherwise he would feel an embarrassment that might affect his honest nature.