The long friendship had never known but one temporary shadow, and this
had been during the time that the present squire's mother ruled in
Sandal; the Mistress Charlotte whose influence was still felt in the old
seat. She had entirely disapproved the familiar affection with which
Latrigg met her husband, and it was said the disputes which drove one of
her sons from his home were caused by her determination to break up the
companionship existing between the young people of the two houses at
that time.

The squire remembered it. He had also, in some degree, regarded his
mother's prejudices while she lived; but, after her death, Sophia and
Charlotte, as well as their brother, began to go very often to Up-Hill
Farm. Naturally Stephen, who was Ducie's son, became the companion of
Harry Sandal; and the girls grew up in his sight like two beautiful
sisters. It was only within the past year that he had begun to
understand that one was dearer to him than the other; but though none of
the three was now ignorant of the fact, it was as yet tacitly ignored.
The knowledge had not been pleasant to Sophia; and to Charlotte and
Stephen it was such a delicious uncertainty, that they hardly desired to
make it sure; and they imagined their secret was all their own, and were
so happy in it, that they feared to look too curiously into their
happiness.

There was to be a great feast and dance that night: and, as they sat at
the tea-table, they heard the mirth and stir of its preparation; but it
came into the room only like a pleasant echo, mingling with the barking
of the sheep-dogs, and the bleating of the shorn sheep upon the fells,
and the murmur of their quiet conversation about "the walks" Latrigg
owned, and the scrambling, black-faced breed whose endurance made them