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52 BLACK SHEEP.accompany beauty, wealth, and freedom, and shesettled the matter yvith herself by reflecting thatthe young man was probably' in love with somepretty girl, to whom he wrote his verses, andconsidered it proper to be indifferent to the attractionsof all female charmers beside. She didnot resent his inaccessibility-; she merely thoughtof it as an odd coincidence that Mr. Felton'snephew should be as little disposed to succumbto lov^e as Mr. Felton himself, and felt inclinedto terminate the interview as soon as possible.Consequently, she made her replies to _\lr. Felton'squestions shorter and colder as they succeededone another, so that he felt some difficultyin putting that particular query on whichGeorge had laid restricted stress. He did notperceive how deep and serious his nephew's misgivingshacl become, and George grasped at everyexcuse that presented itself for deferring theawakening of fears which, once aroused, mustbecome poignant ancl terrible. He had learnedfrom Mrs. L'eton P. Bembridge some of thc factswhich she had communicated to Routh: youngFelton's intention of visiting Homburg at about