"My dear fellow," he exclaimed, "I am sure my father has spoken in a way you feel hard to bear; let me entreat you not to take notice of it. I do not ask you what he said, but I am right, am I not?"

"You are, and I was contemplating leaving the house."

"That is just what you must not do," exclaimed Harry. "You came as my guest, and I cannot allow it. Our father does not know what Julia is made of; when he comes to speak to her, he will find that she can be as firm as he is. I am very certain she will not discard you, and he may find that after all he has to give in, and allow you to go away awaiting for a time when you can return and claim her, which he may possibly hope will never arrive."

Headland was at length persuaded to do as Harry advised; indeed his own heart prompted him to remain, for even had Sir Ralph spoken to him in a still more offensive tone, he would not have left.

"You know me, Harry; and a.s.sure her that whatever your father may say, and however she may be compelled to act towards me, I shall remain pledged to her as long as there is a possibility of her becoming mine."

"In other words," said Harry, "unless she is compelled to marry some one else."

"I could not bear the thoughts of her doing so," exclaimed Headland.

"Even then I should remain her devoted and faithful friend."

"I am sure you would," answered Harry. "I will tell her all you say, though I hope you will be able to tell her yourself. And, my dear fellow, I know my little sister well enough to be very sure that no power on earth will induce her to marry any one else."

Headland felt somewhat relieved by his conversation with his friend.

Harry knew that he had his own trials in store, and could sympathise with him thoroughly.

He had become very impatient at not being able to ride out. The doctor had brought him better accounts from Downside; that was his chief consolation. He determined to go directly Headland left Texford; he would propose a ride with Julia, and she would not refuse to accompany him thus far.

Directly Headland quitted the study, Sir Ralph summoned Julia. She well knew what was coming, and bracing herself up for the interview, appeared before her father with as calm a countenance as she could a.s.sume.

"I understand, young lady, that your brother's friend and shipmate, Captain Headland, has proposed to you, and that without knowing who he is, or what are my wishes on the subject, you have ventured to accept him."

"Yes, papa, I have done so," said Julia.

"You have acted very improperly," remarked Sir Ralph.

"I saw nothing in Captain Headland that would make you object to him, on the contrary, everything to admire," answered Julia, in a firm tone.

"No girl can take such a step without her parent's permission."

"I had no reason to suppose that permission would not be given," said Julia.

"As you are mistaken you are absolved from your promise, and I desire you to tell Captain Headland that you set him free."

"Father," exclaimed Julia, rising, "if you can point out one single blemish in Captain Headland's character, if you can produce one sufficient reason, I would obey you so far as to set him free; but, at the same time, I must tell you I could never marry another. You, however, can allege no just reason why I should not marry him, and I will not utter a falsehood, and lead him to suppose that I do not love him with the most devoted affection."

The baronet listened to his daughter with a scornful curl on his thin lips, and a flush on his brow. Seldom did he exhibit more violent signs of anger.

"I am to understand, then, that you positively refuse to discard this unknown adventurer?" said the baronet, speaking very deliberately. "I regret that I did not use stronger language when speaking to him, but I expected to have your a.s.sistance, and wished to save a scene which might be disagreeable. I must send for him again, and explain myself more clearly."

"Father, I entreat you not to do so," exclaimed Julia, putting her hand on Sir Ralph's arm. "I will speak to Captain Headland, but you cannot, you must not, insult a gallant officer, your son's friend, a guest in your house; you would not gain your end, and you would only add bitterness to my grief at having to part from him."

"If, as I understand, he proposes to take his departure to-morrow, I will allow matters to remain as they are, you promising me that you will speak to him in the way I desire."

"I promise that I will tell Captain Headland of your objections, and I will not act in any way that will bring discredit on the name of Castleton, of which I am as proud as any member of the family."

Julia, with woman's tact, made the last remark, knowing that it would influence her father more than any vehement protestation she could utter.

Headland had been for some time writing in his room after Harry had left him, when the latter returned, and told him he would find Julia in the grounds. Headland eagerly hurried out, and joined her at the spot where Harry had told him she was waiting. They walked on till they reached a summer-house near the lake.

"You have had an interview with my father, and he has since talked to me, and desired me to speak to you, and I promised to obey him, but I do so under compulsion. He said that he would never sanction my becoming your wife, and that I must tell you so. I replied, that as you had my heart, to no one else would I give my hand."

Headland had every reason to be satisfied with all Julia said, though he felt that long years might pa.s.s before she could become his, while she could not hide from herself the numberless dangers he might have to encounter before he could return to claim her; and even then would her father have relented, and might not still difficulties be thrown in the way of their marriage? Hope, however, buoyed her up. Her great wish, in the meantime, would be to remain at Texford, and endeavour to benefit the tenantry and surrounding cottagers. London with its gaieties she felt would have no attractions for her, though she had reason to fear that her father would insist on her going there, and mixing in society, in the hopes of inducing her to form a match such as he would consider suitable for her.

Headland, more than ever convinced of Julia's attachment, was thankful that he had not taken offence at the language her father had used, and at once left the house.

That last meeting, as they sat together looking out on the placid lake, mirrored with the foliage of the overhanging trees, with swans gliding calmly across its surface, the only sound the sweet songs of the bird, or the occasional splash of the fish as they rose to seize the careless flies fleeting above them, could never be forgotten: it brought a sense of peace, and consolation, and hope to their hearts.

The time flew by. Both were unwilling to return to the house. It was the last opportunity they would have of meeting alone.

General Sampson's voice addressing Mrs Appleton in loud tones aroused them.

"I tell you, my dear madam, I shall win my bet notwithstanding," he exclaimed. "My friend, the captain, is not a man who is likely to strike his flag as long as he has a stick standing; he will renew the fight as soon as he has repaired damages."

"I tell you, general, I have known Sir Ralph longer than you have--a more determined, or rather obstinate gentleman does not exist, and unless this captain is a man of family, and that he is not, or I am very sure we should have heard about it, our friend will never give his sanction."

"Then, by Jove, the young people will run off and do without it, ah! ah!

ah!" roared the general.

"Fie, fie, General Sampson, you would not approve of such a proceeding, I hope."

"I am not sure of that, Mrs Appleton," was the answer; and just then the couple came in sight of Headland and Julia, and must have been aware that their remarks had been overheard.

The young people were still more annoyed at being discovered. They both rose, and at the same moment the gong sounded from the house to summon the guests to dress for dinner.

"Pleasant sound that, captain, for those who have appet.i.tes," observed the general. "We must all obey it whether or not, and move homewards."

Though Julia and Headland would willingly have lingered longer, they were compelled to follow the old general and Mrs Appleton to the house.

How quickly that evening went by. Sir Ralph was as courteous as usual, and though formal in the extreme in his manner to Captain Headland, no one would have suspected what had occurred in the morning. Julia did her best to maintain her composure. Though Sir Ralph begged to have music, her mother interfered and saved her from the trial.

Next day arrived at length. Captain Headland was really gone. Julia felt bewildered and desolate; it seemed as if she had received some heavy blow from which it was impossible to recover. Sir Ralph spoke to her in a more kind way than usual, and tried to joke with her, while he amused his guests with the numerous anecdotes which he knew well how to tell.

The doctor, who came early, allowed Harry to take a ride. "It must be short though, and you must not gallop at headlong speed, as you naval officers are apt to do."

"I will get my sister to accompany me to keep me in order." Julia gladly agreed to bear him company.

"Thank you, dear Julia," said Harry, as soon as they were in the saddle.

"We must go to Downside; I cannot exist another day without seeing May."

Julia nodded her consent.

"I thought she would have written to me, but I have my fears that either our good cousins have forbidden her to write or that her letters may have been stopped," he continued. "Did you write to her?" asked Julia.

"No, but I sent messages, and as the only person I could trust to take a letter declined doing so, I could not order a groom to take one, as I had my suspicions that it might be stopped or opened; besides, I have that confidence in May's love that I felt sure she would be content to wait till we could again meet, hearing in the meantime that I was rapidly recovering."

"You acted wisely," said Julia, "for it is impossible to say how our cousins may think it their duty to behave towards you in future."