‘She has hardly ever named him to me.’

’I don’t know why; for to me she used to talk of him perpetually.  I have seen so little of her this week, and I think she forgets a great deal now.  Still, if you don’t mind, I should like to be able to tell her something if she asks me again.’

He put his head again between his hands, and did not answer her for some time.

‘What does she want to know?’ said he, at last.  ’Does she know that Osborne is coming soon—­any day?’

‘Yes.  But she wants to know where he is.’

’I can’t tell you.  I don’t exactly know.  I believe he’s abroad, but I’m not sure.’

‘But you’ve sent papa’s letter to him?’

’I’ve sent it to a friend of his who will know better than I do where he’s to be found.  You must know that he isn’t free from creditors, Molly.  You can’t have been one of the family, like a child of the house almost, without knowing that much.  For that and for some other reasons I don’t exactly know where he is.’

‘I will tell her so.  You are sure he will come?’

’Quite sure.  But, Molly, I think my mother may live some time yet; don’t you?  Dr Nicholls said so yesterday when he was here with your father.  He said she had rallied more than he had ever expected.  You’re not afraid of any change that makes you so anxious for Osborne’s coming?’

’No.  It’s only for her that I asked.  She did seem so to crave for news of him.  I think she dreamed of him; and then when she wakened it was a relief to her to talk about him to me.  She always seemed to associate me with him.  We used to speak so much of him when we were together.’

’I don’t know what we should any of us have done without you.  You’ve been like a daughter to my mother.’

‘I do so love her,’ said Molly, softly.

’Yes; I see.  Have you ever noticed that she sometimes calls you “Fanny”?  It was the name of a little sister of ours who died.  I think she often takes you for her.  It was partly that, and partly that at such a time as this one can’t stand on formalities, that made me call you Molly.  I hope you don’t mind it?’

’No; I like it.  But will you tell me something more about your brother?  She really hungers for news of him.’

’She’d better ask me herself.  Yet, no!  I am so involved by promises of secrecy, Molly, that I couldn’t satisfy her if she once began to question me.  I believe he’s in Belgium, and that he went there about a fortnight ago, partly to avoid his creditors.  You know my father has refused to pay his debts?’

‘Yes; at least, I knew something like it.’

’I don’t believe my father could raise the money all at once without having recourse to steps which he would exceedingly recoil from.  Yet for the time it places Osborne in a very awkward position.’

’I think what vexes your father a good deal is some mystery as to how the money was spent.’