AGAIN, OLD AND NEW ACQUAINTANCE. 127

had such pretty turns and ways with her that were
quite natural to her, and looked so arch and good-
tempered, that it put one in humour with life and
one’s-self, only to look at her. She was a perfect mis-
tress of the art of pleasing—it was born to her, and
therefore it was so easy.

She stopped all night at the Miss Kendricks, Their
little maid went to Mrs. Cope’s, to say so, and to bring
her night-things ; and Reynolds never got home that
night till the clock was on the stroke of one.

 

CHAPTER III.

AGAIN, OLD AND NEW ACQUAINTANCE.

We have not now seen anything of Williams for
some time ; not, in fact, for seven years. Time goes on
with such strange rapidity now-a-days! Seven years it
is since we saw either him or Jessie Bannerman. We
will, first of all, inquire after him, and know some-
thing of the workings of his mind, for, if we are not
mistaken, he must in some things be changed, since
we saw him last. We have long known his growing
aversion to trade—there is nothing at all remarkable
in that. But as concerns Jessie, we must make some
inquiries. This, then, is what regards her.

When all that great affair of the players occurred,
his acquaintance with Jessie came to the knowledge
of the Osbornes, and the painful circumstances re-
garding their nephew that came to their knowledge
with it, caused them to imagine the worst things of
Jessie. It was in vain, when he had confessed his
love-engagement, that he tried to place her character
in its true light. They could not, and did not,
believe what he said. They regarded her as the most