nonearer
,
and
as
this
colonel
says
he
is
going
to
Belfast
in
a
day
or
two
,
there
will
not
be
much
provocation
to
them
to
come
here
.
Now
this
great
event
of
the
Major’s
coming
is
over
,
we
will
try
to
put
Fanny
upon
a
definite
system
,
and
I
look
to
you
and
your
sister
as
a
great
assistance
to
me
,
in
counteracting
the
follies
and
nonsenses
that
her
situation
naturally
exposes
her
to
.
I
have
been
writing
a
little
sketch
of
the
dangers
of
indecision
,
that
I
thought
of
sending
to
the
‘Traveller.’
It
would
strike
Fanny
to
see
there
what
I
so
often
tell
her
;
but
I
can’t
get
an
answer
about
my
paper
on
‘Curatocult
,
’
as
you
made
me
call
it
.
”
“
Did
I
!
”
“
You
said
the
other
word
was
of
two
languages
.
I
can’t
think
why
they
don’t
insert
it
;
but
in
the
meantime
I
will
bring
down
my
‘Human
Reeds
,
’
and
show
them
to
you
.
I
have
only
an
hour’s
work
on
them
;
so
I’ll
come
to-morrow
afternoon
.
”
“
I
think
Colonel
Keith
talked
of
calling
again
—
thank
you
,
”
suggested
Ermine
in
despair
.
“
Ah
,
yes
,
one
does
not
want
to
be
liable
to
interruptions
in
the
most
interesting
part
.
When
he
is
gone
to
Belfast
—
”
“
Yes
,
when
he
is
gone
to
Belfast
!
”
repeated
Ermine
,
with
an
irresistible
gleam
of
mirth
about
her
lips
and
eyes
,
and
at
that
moment
Alison
made
her
appearance
.
The
looks
of
the
sisters
met
,
and
read
one
another
so
far
as
to
know
that
the
meeting
was
over
,
and
for
the
rest
they
endured
,
while
Rachel
remained
,
little
imagining
the
trial
her
presence
had
been
to
Alison’s
burning
heart
—
sick
anxiety
and
doubt
.
How
could
it
be
well
?
Let
him
be
loveable
,
let
him
be
constant
,
that
only
rendered
Ermine’s
condition
the
more
pitiable
,
and
the
shining
glance
of
her
eyes
was
almost
more
than
Alison
could
bear
.
So
happy
as
the
sisters
had
been
together
,
so
absolutely
united
,
it
did
seem
hard
to
disturb
that
calm
life
with
hopes
and
agitations
that
must
needs
be
futile
;
and
Alison
,
whose
whole
life
and
soul
were
in
her
sister
,
could
not
without
a
pang
see
that
sister’s
heart
belonging
to
another
,
and
not
for
hopeful
joy
,
but
pain
and
grief
.
The
yearning
of
jealousy
was
sternly
reproved
and
forced
down
,
and
told
that
Ermine
had
long
been
Colin
Keith’s
,
that
the
perpetrator
of
the
evil
had
the
least
right
of
any
one
to
murmur
that
her
own
monopoly
of
her
sister
was
interfered
with
;
that
she
was
selfish
,
unkind
,
envious
;
that
she
had
only
to
hate
herself
and
pray
for
strength
to
bear
the
punishment
,
without
alloying
Ermine’s
happiness
while
it
lasted
.
How
it
could
be
so
bright
Alison
knew
not
,
but
so
it
was
she
recognised
by
every
tone
of
the
voice
,
by
every
smile
on
the
lip
,
by
even
the
upright
vigour
with
which
Ermine
sat
in
her
chair
and
undertook
Rachel’s
tasks
of
needlework
.
And
yet
,
when
the
visitor
rose
at
last
to
go
,
Alison
was
almost
unwilling
to
be
alone
with
her
sister
,
and
have
that
power
of
sympathy
put
to
the
test
by
those
clear
eyes
that
were
wont
to
see
her
through
and
through
.
She
went
with
Rachel
to
the
door
,
and
stood
taking
a
last
instruction
,
hearing
it
not
at
all
,
but
answering
,
and
relieved
by
the
delay
,
hardly
knowing
whether
to
be
glad
or
not
that
when
she
returned
Rose
was
leaning
on
the
arm
of
her
aunt’s
chair
with
the
most
eager
face
.
But
Rose
was
to
be
no
protection
,
for
what
was
passing
between
her
and
her
aunt
?
“
O
auntie
,
I
am
go
glad
he
is
coming
back
.
He
is
just
like
the
picture
you
drew
of
Robert
Bruce
for
me
.
And
he
is
so
kind
.
I
never
saw
any
gentleman
speak
to
you
in
such
:
a
nice
soft
voice
.
”
Alison
had
no
difficulty
in
smiling
as
Ermine
stroked
the
child’s
hair
,
kissed
her
,
and
looked
up
with
an
arch
,
blushing
,
glittering
face
that
could
not
have
been
brighter
those
long
twelve
years
ago
.
And
then
Rose
turned
round
,
impatient
to
tell
her
other
aunt
her
story
.
“
O
aunt
Ailie
,
we
have
had
such
a
gentleman
here
,
with
a
great
brown
beard
like
a
picture
.
And
he
is
papa’s
old
friend
,
and
kissed
me
because
I
am
papa’s
little
girl
,
and
I
do
like
him
so
very
much
.
I
went
where
I
could
look
at
him
in
the
garden
,
when
you
sent
me
out
,
aunt
Ermine
.
”
“
You
did
,
you
monkey
?
”
said
Ermine
,
laughing
,
and
blushing
again
.
“
What
will
you
do
if
I
send
you
out
next
time
?
No
,
I
won’t
then
,
my
dear
,
for
all
the
time
,
I
should
like
you
to
see
him
and
know
him
.
”
“
Only
,
if
you
want
to
talk
of
anything
very
particular
,
”
observed
Rose
.
“
I
don’t
think
I
need
ask
many
questions
,
”
said
Alison
,
smiling
being
happily
made
very
easy
to
her
.
“
Dear
Ermine
,
I
see
you
are
perfectly
satisfied
—
”
“
O
Ailie
,
that
is
no
word
for
it
!
Not
only
himself
,
but
to
find
him
loving
Rose
for
her
father’s
sake
,
undoubting
of
him
through
all
.
Ailie
,
the
thankfulness
of
it
is
more
than
one
can
bear
.
”
“
And
he
is
the
same
?
”
said
Alison
.
“
The
same
—
no
,
not
the
same
.
It
is
more
,
better
,
or
I
am
able
to
feel
it
more
.
It
was
just
like
the
morrow
of
the
day
he
walked
down
the
lane
with
me
and
gathered
honeysuckles
,
only
the
night
between
has
been
a
very
,
very
strange
time
.
”
“
I
hope
the
interruption
did
not
come
very
soon
.
”
“
I
thought
it
was
directly
,
but
it
could
not
have
been
so
soon
,
since
you
are
come
home
.
We
had
just
had
time
to
tell
what
we
most
wanted
to
know
,
and
I
know
a
little
more
of
what
he
is
.
I
feel
as
if
it
were
not
only
Colin
again
,
but
ten
times
Colin
.
O
Ailie
,
it
must
be
a
little
bit
like
the
meetings
in
heaven
!
”
“
I
believe
it
is
so
with
you
,
”
said
Alison
,
scarcely
able
to
keep
the
tears
from
her
eyes
.
“
After
sometimes
not
daring
to
dwell
on
him
,
and
then
only
venturing
because
I
thought
he
must
be
dead
,
to
have
him
back
again
with
the
same
looks
,
only
deeper
—
to
find
that
he
clung
to
those
weeks
so
long
ago
,
and
,
above
all
,
that
there
was
not
one
cloud
,
one
doubt
about
the
troubles
—
Oh
,
it
is
too
,
too
much
.
”
Ermine
lent
back
with
clasped
hands
.
She
was
like
one
weary
with
happiness
,
and
lain
to
rest
in
the
sense
of
newly-won
peace
.
She
said
little
more
that
evening
,
and
if
spoken
to
,
seemed
like
one
wakened
out
of
a
dream
,
so
that
more
than
once
she
laughed
at
herself
,
begged
her
sister’s
pardon
,
and
said
that
it
seemed
to
her
that
she
could
not
hear
anything
for
the
one
glad
voice
that
rang
in
her
ear
,
“
Colin
is
come
home
.
”
That
was
sufficient
for
her
,
no
need
for
any
other
sympathy
,
felt
Alison
,
with
another
of
those
pangs
crushed
down
.
Then
wonder
came
—
whether
Ermine
could
really
contemplate
the
future
,
or
if
it
were
absolutely
lost
in
the
present
?
Colonel
Keith
went
back
to
be
seized
by
Conrade
and
Francis
,
and
walked
off
to
the
pony
inspection
,
the
two
boys
,
on
either
side
of
him
,
communicating
to
him
the
great
grievance
of
living
in
a
poky
place
like
this
,
where
nobody
had
ever
been
in
the
army
,
nor
had
a
bit
of
sense
,
and
Aunt
Rachel
was
always
bothering
,
and
trying
to
make
mamma
think
that
Con
told
stories
.
“
I
don’t
mind
that
,
”
said
Conrade
,
stoutly
;
“
let
her
try
!
”
“
Oh
,
but
she
wanted
mamma
to
shut
you
up
,
”
added
Francis
.
“
Well
,
and
mamma
knows
better
,
”
said
Conrade
,
“
and
it
made
her
leave
off
teaching
me
,
so
it
was
lucky
.
But
I
don’t
mind
that
;
only
don’t
you
see
,
Colonel
,
they
don’t
know
how
to
treat
mamma
!
They
go
and
bully
her
,
and
treat
her
like
—
like
a
subaltern
,
till
I
hate
the
very
sight
of
it
.
”
“
My
boy
,
”
said
the
Colonel
,
who
had
been
giving
only
half
attention
;
“
you
must
make
up
your
mind
to
your
mother
not
being
at
the
head
of
everything
,
as
she
used
to
be
in
your
father’s
time
.
She
will
always
be
respected
,
but
you
must
look
to
yourself
as
you
grow
up
to
make
a
position
tor
her
!
”
“
I
wish
I
was
grown
up
!
”
sighed
Conrade
;
“
how
I
would
give
it
to
Aunt
Rachel
!
But
why
must
we
live
here
to
have
her
plaguing
us
?
”
Questions
that
the
Colonel
was
glad
to
turn
aside
by
moans
of
the
ponies
,
and
by
a
suggestion
that
,
if
a
very
quiet
one
were
found
,
and
if
Conrade
would
be
very
careful
,
mamma
might
,
perhaps
,
go
out
riding
with
them
.
The
motion
was
so
transcendant
that
,
no
sooner
had
the
ponies
been
seen
,
than
the
boys
raced
home
,
and
had
communicated
it
at
the
top
of
their
voices
to
mamma
long
before
their
friend
made
his
appearance
.
Lady
Temple
was
quite
startled
at
the
idea
.
“
Dear
papa
,
”
as
she
always
called
her
husband
,
“
had
wished
her
to
ride
,
but
she
had
seldom
done
so
,
and
now
—
”
The
tears
came
into
her
eyes
.
“
I
think
you
might
,
”
said
the
Colonel
,
gently
;
“
I
could
find
you
a
quiet
animal
,
and
to
have
you
with
Conrade
would
be
such
a
protection
to
him
,
”
he
added
,
as
the
boys
had
rushed
out
of
the
room
.
“
Yes
;
perhaps
,
dear
boy
.
But
I
could
not
begin
alone
;
it
is
so
long
since
I
rode
.
Perhaps
when
you
come
back
from
Ireland
.
”
“
I
am
not
going
to
Ireland
.
”
“
I
thought
you
said
—
”
said
Fanny
looking
up
surprised
;
“
I
am
very
glad
!
But
if
you
wished
to
go
,
pray
don’t
think
about
us
!
I
shall
learn
to
manage
in
time
,
and
I
cannot
bear
to
detain
you
.
”
“
You
do
not
detain
me
,
”
he
said
,
sitting
down
by
her
;
“
I
have
found
what
I
was
going
in
search
of
,
and
through
your
means
.
”
“
What
—
what
do
you
mean
!
You
were
going
to
see
Miss
Williams
this
afternoon
,
I
thought
!
”
“
Yes
,
and
it
was
she
whom
I
was
seeking
.
”
He
paused
,
and
added
slowly
,
as
if
merely
for
the
sake
of
dwelling
on
the
words
,
“
I
have
found
her
!
”
“
Miss
Williams
!
”
said
Fanny
,
with
perplexed
looks
.
“
Miss
Williams
!
—
my
Ermine
whom
I
had
not
seen
since
the
day
after
her
accident
,
when
we
parted
as
on
her
deathbed
!
”
“
That
sister
!
Oh
,
poor
thing
,
I
am
so
glad
!
But
I
am
sorry
!
”
cried
the
much
confused
Fanny
,
in
a
breath
;
“
were
not
you
very
much
shocked
?
”
“
I
had
never
hoped
to
see
her
face
in
all
its
brightness
again
,
”
he
said
.
“
Twelve
years
!
It
is
twelve
years
that
she
has
suffered
,
and
of
late
she
has
been
brought
to
this
grievous
state
of
poverty
,
and
yet
the
spirit
is
as
brave
and
cheerful
as
ever
!
It
looks
out
of
the
beautiful
eyes
—
more
beautiful
than
when
I
first
saw
them
,
—
I
could
see
and
think
of
nothing
else
!
”
“
Twelve
years
!
”
repeated
Fanny
;
“
is
it
so
long
since
you
saw
her
?
”
“
Almost
since
I
heard
of
her
!
She
was
like
a
daughter
to
my
aunt
at
Beauchamp
,
and
her
brother
was
my
schoolfellow
.
For
one
summer
,
when
I
was
quartered
at
Hertford
,
I
was
with
her
constantly
,
but
my
family
would
not
even
hear
of
the
indefinite
engagement
that
was
all
we
could
have
looked
to
,
and
made
me
exchange
into
the
—
th
.
”
“
Ah
!
that
was
the
way
we
came
to
have
you
!
I
must
tell
you
,
dear
Sir
Stephen
always
guessed
.
Once
when
he
had
quite
vexed
poor
mamma
by
preventing
her
from
joking
you
in
her
way
about
young
ladies
,
he
told
me
that
once
,
when
he
was
young
,
he
had
liked
some
one
who
died
or
was
married
,
I
don’t
quite
know
which
,
and
he
thought
it
was
the
same
with
you
,
from
something
that
happened
when
you
withdrew
your
application
for
leave
after
your
wound
.
”
“
Yes
!
it
was
a
letter
from
home
,
implying
that
my
return
would
be
accepted
as
a
sign
that
I
gave
her
up
.
So
that
was
an
additional
instance
of
the
exceeding
kindness
that
I
always
received
.
”
And
there
was
a
pause
,
both
much
affected
by
the
thought
of
the
good
old
man’s
ever
ready
consideration
.
At
last
Fanny
said
,
“
I
am
sure
it
was
well
for
us
!
What
would
he
have
done
without
you
?
—
and
,
”
she
added
,
“
do
you
really
mean
that
you
never
heard
of
her
all
these
years
?
”
“
Never
after
my
aunt’s
death
,
except
just
after
we
went
to
Melbourne
,
when
I
heard
in
general
terms
of
the
ruin
of
the
family
and
the
false
imputation
on
their
brother
.
”
“
Ah
!
I
remember
that
you
did
say
something
about
going
home
,
and
Sir
Stephen
was
distressed
,
and
mamma
and
I
persuaded
you
because
we
saw
he
would
have
missed
you
so
much
,
and
mamma
was
quite
hurt
at
your
thinking
of
going
.
But
if
you
had
only
told
him
your
reason
,
he
would
never
have
thought
of
standing
in
your
way
.
”
“
I
know
he
would
not
,
but
I
saw
he
could
hardly
find
any
one
else
just
then
who
knew
his
ways
so
well
.
Besides
,
there
was
little
use
in
going
home
till
I
had
my
promotion
,
and
could
offer
her
a
home
;
and
I
had
no
notion
how
utter
the
ruin
was
,
or
that
she
had
lost
so
much
.
So
little
did
I
imagine
their
straits
that
,
but
for
Alison’s
look
,
I
should
hardly
have
inquired
even
on
hearing
her
name
.
”
“
How
very
curious
—
how
strangely
things
come
round
!
”
said
Fanny
;
then
with
a
start
of
dismay
,
“
but
what
shall
I
do
?
Pray
,
tell
me
what
you
would
like
.
If
I
might
only
keep
her
a
little
while
till
I
can
find
some
one
else
,
though
no
one
will
ever
be
so
nice
,
but
indeed
I
would
not
for
a
moment
,
if
you
had
rather
not
.
”
“
Why
so
?
Alison
is
very
happy
with
you
,
and
there
can
be
no
reason
against
her
going
on
.
”
“
Oh
!
”
cried
Lady
Temple
,
with
an
odd
sound
of
satisfaction
,
doubt
,
and
surprise
,
“
but
I
thought
you
would
not
like
it
.
”
“
I
should
like
,
of
course
,
to
set
them
all
at
ease
,
but
as
I
can
do
no
more
than
make
a
home
for
Ermine
and
her
niece
,
I
can
only
rejoice
that
Alison
is
with
you
.
”
“
But
your
brother
!
”
“
If
he
does
not
like
it
,
he
must
take
the
consequence
of
the
utter
separation
he
made
my
father
insist
on
,
”
said
the
Colonel
sternly
.
“
For
my
own
part
,
I
only
esteem
both
sisters
the
more
,
if
that
were
possible
,
for
what
they
have
done
for
themselves
.
”
“
Oh
!
that
is
what
Rachel
would
like
!
She
is
so
fond
of
the
sick
—
I
mean
of
your
—
Miss
Williams
.
I
suppose
I
may
not
tell
her
yet
.
”
“
Not
yet
,
if
you
please
.
I
have
scarcely
had
time
as
yet
to
know
what
Ermine
wishes
,
but
I
could
not
help
telling
you
.
”
“
Thank
you
—
I
am
so
glad
,
”
she
said
,
with
sweet
earnestness
,
holding
out
her
hand
in
congratulation
.
“
When
may
I
go
to
her
?
I
should
like
for
her
to
come
and
stay
here
.
Do
you
think
she
would
?
”
“
Thank
you
,
I
will
see
.
I
know
how
kind
you
would
be
—
indeed
,
have
already
been
to
her
.
”
“
And
I
am
so
thankful
that
I
may
keep
Miss
Williams
!
The
dear
boys
never
were
so
good
.
And
perhaps
she
may
stay
till
baby
is
grown
up
.
Oh
!
how
long
it
will
be
first
!
”
“
She
could
not
have
a
kinder
friend
,
”
said
the
Colonel
,
smiling
,
and
looking
at
his
watch
.
“
Oh
,
is
it
time
to
dress
?
It
is
very
kind
of
my
dear
aunt
;
but
I
do
wish
we
could
have
stayed
at
home
to-night
.
It
is
so
dull
for
the
boys
when
I
dine
out
,
and
I
had
so
much
to
ask
you
.
One
thing
was
about
that
poor
little
Bessie
Keith
.
Don’t
you
think
I
might
ask
her
down
here
,
to
be
near
her
brother
?
”
“
It
would
be
a
very
kind
thing
in
you
,
and
very
good
for
her
,
but
you
must
be
prepared
for
rather
a
gay
young
lady
.
”
“
Oh
,
but
she
would
not
mind
my
not
going
out
.
She
would
have
Alick
,
you
know
,
and
all
the
boys
to
amuse
her
;
but
,
if
you
think
it
would
be
tiresome
for
her
,
and
that
she
would
not
be
happy
,
I
should
be
very
sorry
to
have
her
,
poor
child
.
”
“
I
was
not
afraid
for
her
,
”
said
Colonel
Keith
,
smiling
,
“
but
of
her
being
rather
too
much
for
you
.
”
“
Rachel
is
not
too
much
for
me
,
”
said
Fanny
,
“
and
she
and
Grace
will
entertain
Bessie
,
and
take
her
out
.
But
I
will
talk
to
Alick
.
He
spoke
of
coming
to-morrow
.
And
don’t
you
think
I
might
ask
Colonel
and
Mrs.
Hammond
to
spend
a
day
?
They
would
so
like
the
sea
for
the
children
.
”
“
Certainly
.
”
“
Then
perhaps
you
would
write
—
oh
,
I
forgot
,
”
colouring
up
,
“
I
never
can
forget
the
old
days
,
it
seems
as
if
you
were
on
the
staff
still
.
”
“
I
always
am
on
yours
,
and
always
hope
to
be
,
”
he
said
,
smiling
,
“
though
I
am
afraid
I
can’t
write
your
note
to
the
Hammonds
for
you
.
”
“
But
you
won’t
go
away
,
”
she
said
.
“
I
know
your
time
will
be
taken
up
,
and
you
must
not
let
me
or
the
boys
be
troublesome
;
but
to
have
you
here
makes
me
so
much
less
lost
and
lonely
.
And
I
shall
have
such
a
friend
in
your
Erminia
.
Is
that
her
name
?
”
“
Ermine
,
an
old
Welsh
name
,
the
softest
I
ever
heard
.
Indeed
it
is
dressing
time
,
”
added
Colonel
Keith
,
and
both
moved
away
with
the
startled
precision
of
members
of
a
punctual
military
household
,
still
feeling
themselves
accountable
to
somebody
.
CHAPTER
VI
.
ERMINE’S
RESOLUTION
“
For
as
his
hand
the
weather
steers
,
So
thrive
I
best
‘twixt
joys
and
tears
,
And
all
the
year
have
some
green
ears
.
”
—
H
.
VAUGHAN
.
Alison
had
not
been
wrong
in
her
presentiment
that
the
second
interview
would
be
more
trying
than
the
first
.
The
exceeding
brightness
and
animation
of
Ermine’s
countenance
,
her
speaking
eyes
,
unchanged
complexion
,
and
lively
manner
—
above
all
,
the
restoration
of
her
real
substantial
self
—
had
so
sufficed
and
engrossed
Colin
Keith
in
the
gladness
of
their
first
meeting
that
he
had
failed
to
comprehend
her
helpless
state
;
and
already
knowing
her
to
be
an
invalid
,
not
entirely
recovered
from
her
accident
,
he
was
only
agreeably
surprised
to
see
the
beauty
of
face
he
had
loved
so
long
,
retaining
all
its
vivacity
of
expression
.
And
when
he
met
Alison
the
next
morning
with
a
cordial
brotherly
greeting
and
inquiry
for
her
sister
,
her
“
Very
well
,
”
and
“
not
at
all
the
worse
for
the
excitement
,
”
were
so
hearty
and
ready
that
he
could
not
have
guessed
that
“
well
”
with
Ermine
meant
something
rather
relative
than
positive
.
Alison
brought
him
a
playful
message
from
her
,
that
since
he
was
not
going
to
Belfast
,
she
should
meet
him
with
a
freer
conscience
if
he
would
first
give
her
time
for
Rose’s
lessons
,
and
,
as
he
said
,
he
had
lived
long
enough
with
Messrs.
Conrade
and
Co.
to
acknowledge
the
wisdom
of
the
message
.
But
Rose
had
not
long
been
at
leisure
to
look
out
for
him
before
he
made
his
appearance
,
and
walked
in
by
right
,
as
one
at
home
;
and
sitting
down
in
his
yesterday’s
place
,
took
the
little
maiden
on
his
knee
,
and
began
to
talk
to
her
about
the
lessons
he
had
been
told
to
wait
for
.
What
would
she
have
done
without
them
?
He
knew
some
people
who
never
could
leave
the
house
quiet
enough
to
hear
one’s-self
speak
if
they
were
deprived
of
lessons
.
Was
that
the
way
with
her
?
Rose
laughed
like
a
creature
,
her
aunt
said
,
“
to
whom
the
notion
of
noise
at
play
was
something
strange
and
ridiculous
;
necessity
has
reduced
her
to
Jacqueline
Pascal’s
system
with
her
pensionnaires
,
who
were
allowed
to
play
one
by
one
without
any
noise
.
”
“
But
I
don’t
play
all
alone
,
”
said
Rose
;
“
I
play
with
you
,
Aunt
Ermine
,
and
with
Violetta
.
”
And
Violetta
speedily
had
the
honour
of
an
introduction
,
very
solemnly
gone
through
,
in
due
form
;
Ermine
,
in
the
languid
sportiveness
of
enjoyment
of
his
presence
and
his
kindness
to
the
child
,
inciting
Rose
to
present
Miss
Violetta
Williams
to
Colonel
Keith
,
an
introduction
that
he
returned
with
a
grand
military
salute
,
at
the
same
time
as
he
shook
the
doll’s
inseparable
fingers
.
“
Well
,
Miss
Violetta
,
and
Miss
Rose
,
when
you
come
to
live
with
me
,
I
shall
hope
for
the
pleasure
of
teaching
you
to
make
a
noise
.
”
“
What
does
he
mean
?
”
said
Rose
,
turning
round
amazed
upon
her
aunt
.
“
I
am
afraid
he
does
not
quite
know
,
”
said
Ermine
,
sadly
.
“
Nay
,
Ermine
,
”
said
he
,
turning
from
the
child
,
and
bending
over
her
,
“
you
are
the
last
who
should
say
that
.
Have
I
not
told
you
that
there
is
nothing
now
in
our
way
—
no
one
with
a
right
to
object
,
and
means
enough
for
all
we
should
wish
,
including
her
—
?
What
is
the
matter
?
”
he
added
,
startled
by
her
look
.
“
Ah
,
Colin
!
I
thought
you
knew
—
”
“
Knew
what
,
Ermine
?
”
with
his
brows
drawn
together
.
“
Knew
—
what
I
am
,
”
she
said
;
“
knew
the
impossibility
.
What
,
they
have
not
told
you
?
I
thought
I
was
the
invalid
,
the
cripple
,
with
every
one
.
”
“
I
knew
you
had
suffered
cruelly
;
I
knew
you
were
lame
,
”
he
said
,
breathlessly
;
“
but
—
what
—
”
“
It
is
more
than
lame
,
”
she
said
.
“
I
should
be
better
off
if
the
fiction
of
the
Queens
of
Spain
were
truth
with
me
.
I
could
not
move
from
this
chair
without
help
.
Oh
,
Colin
!
poor
Colin
!
it
was
very
cruel
not
to
have
prepared
you
for
this
!
”
she
added
,
as
he
gazed
at
her
in
grief
and
dismay
,
and
made
a
vain
attempt
to
find
the
voice
that
would
not
come
.
“
Yes
,
indeed
it
is
so
,
”
she
said
;
“
the
explosion
,
rather
than
the
fire
,
did
mischief
below
the
knee
that
poor
nature
could
not
repair
,
and
I
can
but
just
stand
,
and
cannot
walk
at
all
.
”
“
Has
anything
been
done
—
advice
?
”
he
murmured
.
“
Advice
upon
advice
,
so
that
I
felt
at
the
last
almost
a
compensation
to
be
out
of
the
way
of
the
doctors
.
No
,
nothing
more
can
be
done
;
and
now
that
one
is
used
to
it
,
the
snail
is
very
comfortable
in
its
shell
.
But
I
wish
you
could
have
known
it
sooner
!
”
she
added
,
seeing
him
shade
his
brow
with
his
hand
,
overwhelmed
.
“
What
you
must
have
suffered
!
”
he
murmured
.
“
That
is
all
over
long
ago
;
every
year
has
left
that
further
behind
,
and
made
me
more
content
.
Dear
Colin
,
for
me
there
is
nothing
to
grieve
.
”
He
could
not
control
himself
,
rose
up
,
made
a
long
stride
,
and
passed
through
the
open
window
into
the
garden
.
“
Oh
,
if
I
could
only
follow
him
,
”
gasped
Ermine
,
joining
her
hands
and
looking
up
.
“
Is
it
because
you
can’t
walk
?
”
said
Rose
,
somewhat
frightened
,
and
for
the
first
time
beginning
to
comprehend
that
her
joyous-tempered
aunt
could
be
a
subject
for
pity
.
“
Oh
!
this
was
what
I
feared
!
”
sighed
Ermine
.
“
Oh
,
give
us
strength
to
go
through
with
it
.
”
Then
becoming
awake
to
the
child’s
presence
—
“
A
little
water
,
if
you
please
,
my
dear
.
”
Then
,
more
composedly
,
“
Don’t
be
frightened
,
my
Rose
;
you
did
not
know
it
was
such
a
shock
to
find
me
so
laid
by
—
”
“
He
is
in
the
garden
walking
up
and
down
,
”
said
Rose
.
“
May
I
go
and
tell
him
how
much
merrier
you
always
are
than
Aunt
Ailie
?
”
Poor
Ermine
felt
anything
but
merry
just
then
,
but
she
had
some
experience
of
Rose’s
powers
of
soothing
,
and
signed
assent
.
So
in
another
second
Colonel
Keith
was
met
in
the
hasty
,
agonized
walk
by
which
he
was
endeavouring
to
work
off
his
agitation
,
and
the
slender
child
looked
wistfully
up
at
him
from
dark
depths
of
half
understanding
eyes
—
“
Please
,
please
don’t
be
so
very
sorry
,
”
she
said
.
“
Aunt
Ermine
does
not
like
it
.
She
never
is
sorry
for
herself
—
”
“
Have
I
shaken
her
—
distressed
her
?
”
he
asked
,
anxiously
.
“
She
doesn’t
like
you
to
be
sorry
,
”
said
Rose
,
looking
up
.
“
And
,
indeed
,
she
does
not
mind
it
;
she
is
such
a
merry
aunt
!
Please
,
come
in
again
,
and
see
how
happy
we
always
are
—
”
The
last
words
were
spoken
so
near
the
window
that
Ermine
caught
them
,
and
said
,
“
Yes
,
come
in
,
Colin
,
and
learn
not
to
grieve
for
me
,
or
you
will
make
me
repent
of
my
selfish
gladness
yesterday
.
”
“
Not
grieve
!
”
he
exclaimed
,
“
when
I
think
of
the
beautiful
vigorous
being
that
used
to
be
the
life
of
the
place
—
”
and
he
would
have
said
more
but
for
a
deprecating
sign
of
the
hand
.
“
Well
,
”
she
said
,
half
smiling
,
“
it
is
a
pity
to
think
even
of
a
crushed
butterfly
;
but
indeed
,
Colin
,
if
you
can
bear
to
listen
to
me
,
I
think
I
can
show
you
that
it
all
has
been
a
blessing
even
by
sight
,
as
well
as
,
of
course
,
by
faith
.
Only
remember
the
unsatisfactoriness
of
our
condition
—
the
never
seeing
or
hearing
from
one
another
after
that
day
when
Mr.
Beauchamp
came
down
on
us
.
Did
not
the
accident
win
for
us
a
parting
that
was
much
better
to
remember
than
that
state
of
things
?
Oh
,
the
pining
,
weary
feel
as
if
all
the
world
had
closed
on
me
!
I
do
assure
you
it
was
much
worse
than
anything
that
came
after
the
burn
.
Yes
,
if
I
had
been
well
and
doing
like
others
,
I
know
I
should
have
fretted
and
wearied
,
pined
myself
ill
perhaps
,
whereas
I
could
always
tell
myself
that
every
year
of
your
absence
might
be
a
step
towards
your
finding
me
well
;
and
when
I
was
forced
to
give
up
that
hope
for
myself
,
why
then
,
Colin
,
the
never
seeing
your
name
made
me
think
you
would
never
be
disappointed
and
grieved
as
you
are
now
.
It
is
very
merciful
the
way
that
physical
trials
help
one
through
those
of
the
mind
.
”
“
I
never
knew
,
”
said
the
Colonel
;
“
all
my
aunt’s
latter
letters
spoke
of
your
slow
improvement
beyond
hope
.
”
“
True
,
in
her
time
,
I
had
not
reached
the
point
where
I
stopped
.
The
last
time
I
saw
her
I
was
still
upstairs
;
and
,
indeed
,
I
did
not
half
know
what
I
could
do
till
I
tried
.
”
“
Yes
,
”
said
he
,
brightened
by
that
buoyant
look
so
remarkable
in
her
face
;
“
and
you
will
yet
do
more
,
Ermine
.
You
have
convinced
me
that
we
shall
be
all
the
happier
together
—
”
“
But
that
was
not
what
I
meant
to
convince
you
of
—
”
she
said
,
faintly
.
“
Not
what
you
meant
,
perhaps
;
but
what
it
did
convince
me
was
,
that
you
—
as
you
are
,
my
Ermine
—
are
ten
thousand
times
more
to
me
than
even
as
the
beautiful
girl
,
and
that
there
never
can
be
a
happier
pair
than
we
shall
be
when
I
am
your
hands
and
feet
.
”
Ermine
sat
up
,
and
rallied
all
her
forces
,
choked
back
the
swelling
of
her
throat
,
and
said
,
“
Dear
Colin
,
it
cannot
be
!
I
trusted
you
were
understanding
that
when
I
told
you
how
it
was
with
me
.
”
He
could
not
speak
from
consternation
.
“
No
,
”
she
said
;
“
it
would
be
wrong
in
me
to
think
of
it
for
an
instant
.
That
you
should
have
done
so
,
shows
—
O
Colin
,
I
cannot
talk
of
it
;
but
it
would
be
as
ungenerous
in
me
to
consent
,
as
it
is
noble
of
you
to
propose
it
.
”
“
It
is
no
such
thing
,
”
he
answered
;
“
it
has
been
the
one
object
and
thought
of
my
life
,
the
only
hope
I
have
had
all
these
years
.
”
“
Exactly
so
,
”
she
said
,
struggling
again
to
speak
firmly
;
“
and
that
is
the
very
thing
.
You
kept
your
allegiance
to
the
bright
,
tall
,
walking
,
active
girl
,
and
it
would
be
a
shame
in
the
scorched
cripple
to
claim
it
.
”
“
Don’t
call
yourself
names
.
Have
I
not
told
you
that
you
are
more
than
the
same
?
”
“
You
do
not
know
.
You
are
pleased
because
my
face
is
not
burnt
,
nor
grown
much
older
,
and
because
I
can
talk
and
laugh
in
the
same
voice
still
.
”
(
Oh
,
how
it
quivered
!
)
“
But
it
would
be
a
wicked
mockery
in
me
to
pretend
to
be
the
wife
you
want
.
Yes
,
I
know
you
think
you
do
,
but
that
is
just
because
my
looks
are
so
deceitful
,
and
you
have
kept
on
thinking
about
me
;
but
you
must
make
a
fresh
beginning
.
”
“
You
can
tell
me
that
,
”
he
said
,
indignantly
.
“
Because
it
is
not
new
to
me
,
”
she
said
;
“
the
quarter
of
an
hour
you
stood
by
me
,
with
that
deadly
calm
in
your
white
face
,
was
the
real
farewell
to
the
young
hopeful
dream
of
that
bright
summer
.
I
wish
it
was
as
calm
now
.
”
“
I
believed
you
dying
then
,
”
answered
he
.
“
Do
not
make
me
think
it
would
have
been
better
for
you
if
I
had
been
,
”
she
said
,
imploringly
.
“
It
was
as
much
the
end
,
and
I
knew
it
from
the
time
my
recovery
stopped
short
.
I
would
have
let
you
know
if
I
could
,
and
then
you
would
not
have
been
so
much
shocked
.
”
“
So
as
to
cut
me
off
from
you
entirely
?
”
“
No
,
indeed
.
The
thought
of
seeing
you
again
was
too
—
too
overwhelming
to
be
indulged
in
;
knowing
,
as
I
did
,
that
if
you
were
the
same
to
me
,
it
must
be
at
this
sad
cost
to
you
,
”
and
her
eyes
filled
with
tears
.
“
It
is
you
who
make
it
so
,
Ermine
.
”
“
No
;
it
is
the
providence
that
has
set
me
aside
from
the
active
work
of
life
.
Pray
do
not
go
on
,
Colin
,
it
is
only
giving
us
both
useless
pain
.
You
do
not
know
what
it
costs
me
to
deny
you
,
and
I
feel
that
I
must
.
I
know
you
are
only
acting
on
the
impulse
of
generosity
.
Yes
,
I
will
say
so
,
though
you
think
it
is
to
please
yourself
,
”
she
added
,
with
one
of
those
smiles
that
nothing
could
drive
far
from
her
lips
,
and
which
made
it
infinitely
harder
to
acquiesce
in
her
denial
.
“
I
will
make
you
think
so
in
time
,
”
he
said
.
“
Then
I
might
tell
you
,
you
had
no
right
to
please
yourself
,
”
she
answered
,
still
with
the
same
air
of
playfulness
;
“
you
have
got
a
brother
,
you
know
—
and
—
yes
,
I
hear
you
growl
;
but
if
he
is
a
poor
old
broken
man
out
of
health
,
it
is
the
more
reason
you
should
not
vex
him
,
nor
hamper
yourself
with
a
helpless
commodity
.
”
“
You
are
not
taking
the
way
to
make
me
forget
what
my
brother
has
done
for
us
.
”
“
How
do
you
know
that
he
did
not
save
me
from
being
a
strong-minded
military
lady
!
After
all
,
it
was
absurd
to
expect
people
to
look
favourably
on
our
liking
for
one
another
,
and
you
know
they
could
not
be
expected
to
know
that
there
was
real
stuff
in
the
affair
.
If
there
had
not
been
,
we
should
have
thought
so
all
the
same
,
you
know
,
and
been
quite
as
furious
.
”
He
could
not
help
smiling
,
recollecting
fury
that
,
in
the
course
of
these
twelve
years
,
he
had
seen
evinced
under
similar
circumstances
by
persons
who
had
consoled
themselves
before
he
had
done
pitying
them
.
“
Still
,
”
he
said
gravely
,
“
I
think
there
was
harshness
.
”
“
So
do
I
,
but
not
so
much
as
I
thought
at
that
time
,
and
—
oh
,
surely
that
is
not
Rachel
Curtis
?
I
told
her
I
thought
you
would
call
.
”
“
Intolerable
!
”
he
muttered
between
his
teeth
.
“
Is
she
always
coming
to
bore
you
?
”
“
She
has
been
very
kind
,
and
my
great
enlivenment
,
”
said
Ermine
,
“
and
she
can’t
be
expected
to
know
how
little
we
want
her
.
Oh
,
there
,
the
danger
is
averted
!
She
must
have
asked
if
you
were
here
.
”
“
I
was
just
thinking
that
she
was
the
chief
objection
to
Lady
Temple’s
kind
wish
of
having
you
at
Myrtlewood
.
”
“
Does
Lady
Temple
know
?
”
asked
Ermine
,
blushing
.
“
I
could
not
keep
it
from
one
who
has
been
so
uniformly
kind
to
me
;
but
I
desired
her
not
to
let
it
go
further
till
I
should
hear
your
wishes
.
”
“
Yes
,
she
has
a
right
to
know
,
”
said
Ermine
;
“
but
please
,
not
a
word
elsewhere
.
”
“
And
will
you
not
come
to
stay
with
her
?
”
“
I
?
Oh
,
no
;
I
am
fit
for
no
place
but
this
.
You
don’t
half
know
how
bad
I
am
.
When
you
have
seen
a
little
more
of
us
,
you
will
be
quite
convinced
.
”
“
Well
,
at
least
,
you
give
me
leave
to
come
here
.
”
“
Leave
?
When
it
is
a
greater
pleasure
than
I
ever
thought
to
have
again
;
that
is
,
while
you
understand
that
you
said
good-bye
to
the
Ermine
of
Beauchamp
Parsonage
twelve
years
ago
,
and
that
the
thing
here
is
only
a
sort
of
ghost
,
most
glad
and
grateful
to
be
a
friend
—
a
sister
.
”
“
So
,
”
he
said
,
“
those
are
to
be
the
terms
of
my
admission
.
”
“
The
only
possible
ones
.
”
“
I
will
consider
them
.
I
have
not
accepted
them
.
”
“
You
will
,
”
she
said
.
But
she
met
a
smile
in
return
,
implying
that
there
might
be
a
will
as
steadfast
as
her
own
,
although
the
question
might
be
waived
for
a
time
.
Meantime
,
Rachel
was
as
nearly
hating
Colonel
Keith
as
principle
would
allow
,
with
“
Human
Reeds
,
”
newly
finished
,
burning
in
her
pocket
,
“
Military
Society
”
fermenting
in
her
brain
,
and
“
Curatocult
”
still
unacknowledged
.
Had
he
not
had
quite
time
for
any
rational
visit
?
Was
he
to
devour
Mackarel
Lane
as
well
as
Myrtlewood
?
She
was
on
her
way
to
the
latter
house
,
meeting
Grace
as
she
went
,
and
congratulating
herself
that
he
could
not
be
in
two
places
at
once
,
whilst
Grace
secretly
wondered
how
far
she
might
venture
to
build
on
Alison
Williams’s
half
confidence
,
and
regretted
the
anxiety
wasted
by
Rachel
and
the
mother
;
though
,
to
be
sure
,
that
of
Mrs.
Curtis
was
less
uncalled
for
than
her
daughter’s
,
since
it
was
only
the
fear
of
Fanny’s
not
being
sufficiently
guarded
against
misconstructions
.
Rachel
held
up
her
hands
in
despair
in
the
hall
.
“
Six
officers’
cards
!
”
she
exclaimed
.
“
No
,
only
six
cards
,
”
said
Grace
;
“
there
are
two
of
each
.
”
“
That’s
enough
,
”
sighed
Rachel
;
“
and
look
there
,
”
gazing
through
the
garden-door
.
“
She
is
walking
with
the
young
puppy
that
dined
here
on
Thursday
,
and
they
called
Alick
.
”
“
Do
you
remember
,
”
said
Grace
,
“
how
she
used
to
chatter
about
Alick
,
when
she
first
came
to
us
,
at
six
years
old
.
He
was
the
child
of
one
of
the
officers
.
Can
this
be
the
same
?
”
“
That’s
one
of
your
ideas
,
Grace
.
Look
,
this
youth
could
have
been
hardly
born
when
Fanny
came
to
us
.
No
;
he
is
only
one
of
the
idlers
that
military
life
has
accustomed
her
to
.
”
Rather
against
Grace’s
feeling
,
Rachel
drew
her
on
,
so
as
to
come
up
with
Lady
Temple
and
her
friend
in
the
midst
of
their
conversation
,
and
they
heard
the
last
words
—
“
Then
you
will
give
me
dear
Bessie’s
direction
?
”
“
Thank
you
,
it
will
be
the
greatest
kindness
—
”
“
Oh
,
Grace
,
Rachel
,
is
it
you
?
”
exclaimed
Fanny
.
“
You
have
not
met
before
,
I
think
.
Mr.
Keith
—
Miss
Curtis
.
”
Very
young
indeed
were
both
face
and
figure
,
fair
and
pale
,
and
though
there
was
a
moustache
,
it
was
so
light
and
silky
as
to
be
scarcely
visible
;
the
hair
,
too
,
was
almost
flaxen
,
and
the
whole
complexion
had
a
washed-out
appearance
.
The
eyes
,
indeed
,
were
of
the
same
peculiar
deep
blue
as
the
Colonel’s
,
but
even
these
were
little
seen
under
their
heavy
sleepy
lids
,
and
the
long
limbs
had
in
every
movement
something
of
weight
and
slowness
,
the
very
sight
of
which
fretted
Rachel
,
and
made
her
long
to
shake
him
.
It
appeared
that
he
was
come
to
spend
the
Sunday
at
Avonmouth
,
and
Grace
tried
to
extract
the
comfort
for
her
mother
that
two
gentlemen
were
better
than
one
,
and
Fanny
need
not
be
on
their
minds
for
chaperonage
for
that
day
.
A
party
of
garden-chairs
on
the
lawn
invited
repose
,
and
there
the
ladies
seated
themselves
;
Fanny
laying
down
her
heavy
crape
bonnet
,
and
showing
her
pretty
little
delicate
face
,
now
much
fresher
and
more
roseate
than
when
she
arrived
,
though
her
wide-spreading
black
draperies
gave
a
certain
dignity
to
her
slight
figure
,
contrasting
with
the
summer
muslins
of
her
two
cousins
;
as
did
her
hot-house
plant
fairness
,
with
their
firm
,
healthy
glow
of
complexion
;
her
tender
shrinking
grace
,
with
their
upright
vigour
.
The
gentleman
of
the
party
leant
hack
in
a
languid
,
easy
posture
,
as
though
only
half
awake
,
and
the
whole
was
so
quiet
that
Grace
,
missing
the
usual
tumult
of
children
,
asked
after
them
.
“
The
boys
have
gone
to
their
favourite
cove
under
the
plantation
.
They
have
a
fort
there
,
and
Hubert
told
me
he
was
to
be
a
hero
,
and
Miss
Williams
a
she-ro
.
”
“
I
would
not
encourage
that
description
of
sport
,
”
said
Rachel
,
willing
to
fight
a
battle
in
order
to
avert
maternal
anecdotes
of
boyish
sayings
.
“
They
like
it
so
much
,
”
said
Fanny
,
“
and
they
learn
so
much
now
that
they
act
all
the
battles
they
read
about
.
”
“
That
is
what
I
object
to
,
”
said
Rachel
;
“
it
is
accustoming
them
to
confound
heroism
with
pugnacity
.
”
“
No
,
but
Rachel
dear
,
they
do
quarrel
and
fight
among
themselves
much
less
now
that
this
is
all
in
play
and
good
humour
,
”
pleaded
Fanny
.
“
Yes
,
that
may
be
,
but
you
are
cultivating
the
dangerous
instinct
,
although
for
a
moment
giving
it
a
better
direction
.
”
“
Dangerous
?
Oh
,
Alick
!
do
you
think
it
can
be
?
”
said
Fanny
,
less
easily
borne
down
with
a
supporter
beside
her
.
“
According
to
the
Peace
Society
,
”
he
answered
,
with
a
quiet
air
of
courteous
deference
;
“
perhaps
you
belong
to
it
?
”
“
No
,
indeed
,
”
answered
Rachel
,
rather
indignantly
,
“
I
think
war
the
great
purifier
and
ennobler
of
nations
,
when
it
is
for
a
good
and
great
cause
;
but
I
think
education
ought
to
protest
against
confounding
mere
love
of
combat
with
heroism
.
”
“
Query
,
the
true
meaning
of
the
word
?
”
he
said
,
leaning
back
.
“
Heros
,
yes
from
the
same
root
as
the
German
herr
,
”
readily
responded
Rachel
,
“
meaning
no
more
than
lord
and
master
;
but
there
can
be
no
doubt
that
the
progress
of
ideas
has
linked
with
it
a
much
nobler
association
.
”
“
Progress
!
What
,
since
the
heroes
were
half
divine
!
”
“
Half
divine
in
the
esteem
of
a
people
who
thought
brute
courage
godlike
.
To
us
the
word
maintains
its
semi-divinity
,
and
it
should
be
our
effort
to
associate
it
only
with
that
which
veritably
has
the
god-like
stamp
.
”
“
And
that
is
—
?
”
“
Doing
more
than
one’s
duty
,
”
exclaimed
Rachel
,
with
a
glistening
eye
.
“
Very
uncomfortable
and
superfluous
,
and
not
at
all
easy
,
”
he
said
,
half
shutting
his
already
heavy
eyes
.
“
Easy
,
no
,
that’s
the
beauty
and
the
glory
—
”
“
Major
Sherborne
and
Captain
Lester
in
the
drawing
room
,
my
lady
,
”
announced
Coombe
,
who
had
looked
infinitely
cheered
since
this
military
influx
.
“
You
will
come
with
me
,
Grace
,
”
said
Fanny
,
rising
.
“
I
dare
say
you
had
rather
not
,
Rachel
,
and
it
would
be
a
pity
to
disturb
you
,
Alick
.
”
“
Thank
you
;
it
would
be
decidedly
more
than
my
duty
.
”
“
I
am
quite
sorry
to
go
,
you
are
so
amusing
,
”
said
Fanny
,
“
but
I
suppose
you
will
have
settled
about
heroism
by
the
time
we
come
out
again
,
and
will
tell
me
what
the
boys
ought
to
play
at
.
”
Rachel’s
age
was
quite
past
the
need
of
troubling
herself
at
being
left
tete-a-tete
with
a
mere
lad
like
this
;
and
,
besides
,
it
was
an
opportunity
not
to
be
neglected
of
giving
a
young
carpet
knight
a
lesson
in
true
heroism
.
There
was
a
pause
after
the
other
two
had
moved
off
.
Rachel
reflected
for
a
few
moments
,
and
then
,
precipitated
by
the
fear
of
her
audience
falling
asleep
,
she
exclaimed
—
“
No
words
have
been
more
basely
misused
than
hero
and
heroine
.
The
one
is
the
mere
fighting
animal
whose
strength
or
fortune
have
borne
him
through
some
more
than
ordinary
danger
,
the
other
is
only
the
subject
of
an
adventure
,
perfectly
irrespective
of
her
conduct
in
it
.
”
“
Bathos
attends
all
high
words
,
”
he
said
,
as
she
paused
,
chiefly
to
see
whether
he
was
awake
,
and
not
like
her
dumb
playfellow
of
old
.
“
This
is
not
their
natural
bathos
but
their
misuse
.
They
ought
to
be
reserved
for
those
who
in
any
department
have
passed
the
limits
to
which
the
necessity
of
their
position
constrained
them
,
and
done
acts
of
self-devotion
for
the
good
of
others
.
I
will
give
you
an
instance
,
and
from
your
own
profession
,
that
you
may
see
I
am
not
prejudiced
,
besides
,
the
hero
of
it
is
past
praise
or
blame
.
”
Encouraged
by
seeing
a
little
more
of
his
eyes
,
she
went
on
.
“
It
was
in
the
course
of
the
siege
of
Delhi
,
a
shell
came
into
a
tent
where
some
sick
and
wounded
were
lying
.
There
was
one
young
officer
among
them
who
could
move
enough
to
have
had
a
chance
of
escaping
the
explosion
,
but
instead
of
that
he
took
the
shell
up
,
its
fuse
burning
as
it
was
,
and
ran
with
it
out
of
the
tent
,
then
hurled
it
to
a
distance
.
It
exploded
,
and
of
course
was
his
death
,
but
the
rest
were
saved
,
and
I
call
that
a
deed
of
heroism
far
greater
than
mounting
a
breach
or
leading
a
forlorn
hope
.
”
“
Killed
,
you
say
?
”
inquired
Mr.
Keith
,
still
in
the
same
lethargic
manner
.
“
Oh
yes
,
mortally
wounded
:
carried
back
to
die
among
the
men
he
had
saved
.
”
“
Jessie
Cameron
singing
his
dirge
,
”
mumbled
this
provoking
individual
,
with
something
about
the
form
of
his
cheek
that
being
taken
by
Rachel
for
a
derisive
smile
,
made
her
exclaim
vehemently
,
“
You
do
not
mean
to
undervalue
an
action
like
that
in
comparison
with
mere
animal
pugnacity
in
an
advance
.
”
“
More
than
one’s
duty
was
your
test
,
”
he
said
.
“
And
was
not
this
more
than
duty
?
Ah
!
I
see
yours
is
a
spirit
of
depreciation
,
and
I
can
only
say
I
pity
you
.
”
He
took
the
trouble
to
lift
himself
up
and
make
a
little
bow
of
acknowledgment
.
Certainly
he
was
worse
than
the
Colonel
;
but
Rachel
,
while
mustering
her
powers
for
annihilating
him
,
was
annoyed
by
all
the
party
in
the
drawing-room
coming
forth
to
join
them
,
the
other
officers
rallying
young
Keith
upon
his
luxurious
station
,
and
making
it
evident
that
he
was
a
proverb
in
the
regiment
for
taking
his
ease
.
Chairs
were
brought
out
,
and
afternoon
tea
,
and
the
callers
sat
down
to
wait
for
Colonel
Keith
to
come
in
;
Grace
feeling
obliged
to
stay
to
help
Fanny
entertain
her
visitors
,
and
Rachel
to
protect
her
from
their
follies
.
One
thing
Grace
began
to
perceive
,
that
Lady
Temple
had
in
her
former
world
been
a
person
of
much
more
consideration
than
she
was
made
here
,
and
seeing
the
polite
and
deferential
manner
of
these
officers
to
her
,
could
only
wonder
at
her
gentle
content
and
submission
in
meeting
with
no
particular
attention
from
anybody
,
and
meekly
allowing
herself
to
be
browbeaten
by
Rachel
and
lectured
by
her
aunt
.
A
lecture
was
brewing
up
for
her
indeed
.
Poor
Mrs.
Curtis
was
very
much
concerned
at
the
necessity
,
and
only
spurred
up
by
a
strong
sense
of
duty
to
give
a
hint
—
the
study
of
which
hint
cost
her
a
whole
sleepless
night
and
a
very
weary
Sunday
morning
.
She
decided
that
her
best
course
would
be
to
drive
to
Myrtlewood
rather
early
on
her
way
to
church
,
and
take
up
Fanny
,
gaining
a
previous
conference
with
her
alone
,
if
possible
.
“
Yes
,
my
dear
,
”
she
said
to
Grace
,
“
I
must
get
it
over
before
church
,
or
it
will
make
me
so
nervous
all
through
the
service
.
”
And
Grace
,
loving
her
mother
best
,
durst
not
suggest
what
it
might
do
to
Fanny
,
hoping
that
the
service
might
help
her
to
digest
the
hint
.
Mrs.
Curtis’s
regular
habits
were
a
good
deal
shocked
to
find
Fanny
still
at
the
breakfast
table
.
The
children
had
indeed
long
finished
,
and
were
scattered
about
the
room
,
one
of
them
standing
between
Colonel
Keith’s
knees
,
repeating
a
hymn
;
but
the
younger
guest
was
still
in
the
midst
of
his
meal
,
and
owned
in
his
usual
cool
manner
that
he
was
to
blame
for
the
lateness
,
there
was
no
resisting
the
charms
of
no
morning
parade
.
Her
aunt’s
appearance
made
Fanny
imagine
it
much
later
than
it
really
was
,
and
she
hurried
off
the
children
to
be
dressed
,
and
proceeded
herself
to
her
room
,
Mrs.
Curtis
following
,
and
by
way
of
preliminary
,
asking
when
Colonel
Keith
was
going
to
Ireland
.
“
Oh
!
”
said
Fanny
,
blushing
most
suspiciously
under
her
secret
,
“
he
is
not
going
to
Ireland
now
.
”
“
Indeed
!
I
quite
understood
he
intended
it
.
”
“
Yes
,
”
faltered
Fanny
,
“
but
he
found
that
he
need
not
.
”
“
Indeed
!
”
again
ejaculated
poor
perplexed
Mrs.
Curtis
;
“
but
then
,
at
least
,
he
is
going
away
soon
.
”
“
He
must
go
to
Scotland
by-and-by
,
but
for
the
present
he
is
going
into
lodgings
.
Do
you
know
of
any
nice
ones
,
dear
aunt
?
”
“
Well
,
I
suppose
you
can’t
help
that
;
you
know
,
my
dear
,
it
would
never
do
for
him
to
stay
in
this
house
.
”
“
I
never
thought
of
that
,
”
said
Fanny
simply
,
the
colour
coming
in
a
fresh
glow
.
“
No
,
my
dear
,
but
you
see
you
are
very
young
and
inexperienced
.
I
do
not
say
you
have
done
anything
the
least
amiss
,
or
that
you
ever
would
mean
it
,
only
you
will
forgive
your
old
aunt
for
putting
you
on
your
guard
.
”
Fanny
kissed
her
,
but
with
eyes
full
of
tears
,
and
cheeks
burning
,
then
her
candour
drew
from
her
—
“
It
was
he
that
thought
of
getting
a
lodging
.
I
am
glad
I
did
not
persuade
him
not
;
but
you
know
he
always
did
live
with
us
.
”
“
With
us
.
Yes
,
my
poor
dear
,
that
is
the
difference
,
and
you
see
he
feels
it
.
But
,
indeed
,
my
dear
child
,
though
he
is
a
very
good
man
,
I
dare
say
,
and
quite
a
gentleman
all
but
his
beard
,
you
had
better
not
encourage
—
You
know
people
are
so
apt
to
make
remarks
.
”
“
I
have
no
fear
,
”
said
Fanny
,
turning
away
her
head
,
conscious
of
the
impossibility
of
showing
her
aunt
her
mistake
.
“
Ah
!
my
dear
,
you
don’t
guess
how
ready
people
are
to
talk
;
and
you
would
not
like
—
for
your
children’s
sake
,
for
your
husband’s
sake
—
that
—
that
—
”
“
Pray
,
pray
aunt
,
”
cried
Fanny
,
much
pained
,
“
indeed
you
don’t
know
.
My
husband
had
confidence
in
him
more
than
in
any
one
.
He
told
him
to
take
care
of
me
and
look
after
the
boys
.
I
couldn’t
hold
aloof
from
him
without
transgressing
those
wishes
”
—
and
the
words
were
lost
in
a
sob
.
“
My
dear
,
indeed
I
did
not
mean
to
distress
you
.
You
know
,
I
dare
say
—
I
mean
—
”
hesitated
poor
Mrs.
Curtis
.
“
I
know
you
must
see
a
great
deal
of
him
.
I
only
want
you
to
take
care
—
appearances
are
appearances
,
and
if
it
was
said
you
had
all
these
young
officers
always
coming
about
—
”
“
I
don’t
think
they
will
come
.
It
was
only
just
to
call
,
and
they
have
known
me
so
long
.
It
is
all
out
of
respect
to
my
father
and
Sir
Stephen
,
”
said
Fanny
,
meekly
as
ever
.
“
Indeed
,
I
would
not
for
the
world
do
anything
you
did
not
like
,
dear
aunt
;
but
there
can’t
be
any
objection
to
my
having
Mrs.
Hammond
and
the
children
to
spend
the
day
to-morrow
.
”
Mrs.
Curtis
did
not
like
it
;
she
had
an
idea
that
all
military
ladies
were
dashing
and
vulgar
,
but
she
could
not
say
there
was
any
objection
,
so
she
went
on
to
the
head
of
poor
Fanny’s
offending
.
“
This
young
man
,
my
dear
,
he
seems
to
make
himself
very
intimate
.
”
“
Alick
Keith
?
Oh
aunt
!
”
said
Fanny
,
more
surprised
than
by
all
the
rest
;
“
don’t
you
know
about
him
?
His
father
and
mother
were
our
greatest
friends
always
;
I
used
to
play
with
him
every
day
till
I
came
to
you
.
And
then
just
as
I
married
,
poor
Mrs.
Keith
died
,
and
we
had
dear
little
Bessie
with
us
till
her
father
could
send
her
home
.
And
when
poor
Alick
was
so
dreadfully
wounded
before
Delhi
,
Sir
Stephen
sent
him
up
in
a
litter
to
the
hills
for
mamma
and
me
to
nurse
.
Mamma
was
so
fond
of
him
,
she
used
to
call
him
her
son
.
”
“
Yes
,
my
dear
,
I
dare
say
you
have
been
very
intimate
;
but
you
see
you
are
very
young
;
and
his
staying
here
—
”
“
I
thought
he
would
be
so
glad
to
come
and
be
with
the
Colonel
,
who
was
his
guardian
and
Bessie’s
,
”
said
Fanny
