CHAPTER IV.


Buckhurst Falconer returned to Percy-hall.

He came provided with something like an excuse--he had business--his father
had desired him to ask Mr. Percy to take charge of a box of family papers
for him, as he apprehended that, when he was absent from the country, his
steward had not been as careful of them as he ought to have been.

Mr. Percy willingly consented to take charge of the papers, but he desired
that, before they were left with him, Buckhurst should take a list of them.

Buckhurst was unprepared for this task.

His head was intent on a ball and on Caroline. However, he was obliged to
undergo this labour; and when he had finished it, Mr. Percy, who happened
to be preparing some new leases of considerable farms, was so busy, in the
midst of his papers, that there was no such thing as touching upon the
subject of the ball. At length the ladies of the family appeared, and all
the parchments were at last out of the way--Buckhurst began upon his real
business, and said he meant to delay going to town a few days longer,
because there was to be a ball early in the ensuing week.--"Nothing more
natural," said Mr. Percy, "than to wish to go to a ball; yet," added he,
gravely, "when a man of honour gives his promise that nothing shall prevent
him from commencing his studies immediately, I did not expect that the