Mr.Wyvil was delighted with the son of his old friend.Emily felt secretly proud of the good opinions which her admirer was gathering;and Francine saw with pleasure that he was asserting his claim to Emily's preference,in the way of all others which would be most likely to discourage his rival.These various impressions--produced while Alban's enemy was ominously silent--began to suffer an imperceptible change,from the moment when Mirabel decided that his time had come to take the lead.Aremark made by Alban offered him the chance for which he had been on the watch.He agreed with the remark;he enlarged on the remark;he was brilliant and familiar,and instructive and amusing--and still it was all due to the remark.Alban's temper was once more severely tried.Mirabel's mischievous object had not escaped his penetration.He did his best to put obstacles in the adversary's way--and was baffled,time after time,with the readiest ingenuity.If he interrupted--the sweet-tempered clergyman submitted,and went on.If he differed--modest Mr.
Mirabel said,in the most amiable manner,"I daresay I am wrong,"and handled the topic from his opponent's point of view.Never had such a perfect Christian sat before at Mr.Wyvil's table:not a hard word,not an impatient look,escaped him.The longer Alban resisted,the more surely he lost ground in the general estimation.Cecilia was disappointed;Emily was grieved;Mr.
Wyvil's favorable opinion began to waver;Francine was disgusted.
When dinner was over,and the carriage was waiting to take the shepherd back to his flock by moonlight,Mirabel's triumph was complete.He had made Alban the innocent means of publicly exhibiting his perfect temper and perfect politeness,under their best and brightest aspect.
So that day ended.Sunday promised to pass quietly,in the absence of Mirabel.The morning came--and it seemed doubtful whether the promise would be fulfilled.
Francine had passed an uneasy night.No such encouraging result as she had anticipated had hitherto followed the appearance of Alban Morris at Monksmoor.He had clumsily allowed Mirabel to improve his position--while he had himself lost ground--in Emily's estimation.If this first disastrous consequence of the meeting between the two men was permitted to repeat itself on future occasions,Emily and Mirabel would be brought more closely together,and Alban himself would be the unhappy cause of it.
Francine rose,on the Sunday morning,before the table was laid for breakfast--resolved to try the effect of a timely word of advice.
Her bedroom was situated in the front of the house.The man she was looking for presently passed within her range of view from the window,on his way to take a morning walk in the park.She followed him immediately.
"Good-morning,Mr.Morris."
He raised his hat and bowed--without speaking,and without looking at her.