Though August had already given place to September, the weather was
warm and balmy, as in the full glory of midsummer.
Sir Oswald rode behind Lady Eversleigh's barouche, too remote to hear
the words that were spoken by those who occupied the vehicle; but quite
near enough to distinguish the tones and the laughter, and to perceive
every gesture. He saw Victor bend forward to address Honoria. He saw
that deferential and devoted manner which had so much offended him
since he had first set himself to watch the surgeon. And Lady
Eversleigh did not discourage her admirer; she let him talk; she seemed
interested in his conversation; and as Lydia Graham and Lord Howden
were entirely occupied with each other, the conversation between
Honoria was a complete _tete-a-tete_. The young man's handsome head
bent lower and lower over the plumed hat of Lady Eversleigh; and with
every step of that ten-mile journey, the cloud that overshadowed the
baronet's mind grew more profound in its fatal gloom. He no longer
struggled against his doubts--he abandoned himself altogether to the
passion that held possession of him.
But the eyes of the world were on Sir Oswald, and he was obliged to
meet those unpitying eyes with a smile. The long line of equipages drew
up at last on the margin of a wood; the pleasure-seekers alighted, and
wandered about in twos and threes amongst the umbrageous pathways which
led towards the Wizard's Cave.
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