“Phil,” she said, as her brother came softly into the room and sat beside her, “take me back with you to the sea-side.  I am weary of living always here in Kensington.  It is only London after all.”

“My dearest,” he answered, kindly, “if that is all you wish for, it shall certainly be.  But, Adelais, is there nothing more than this that troubles you?  There is a shadow in your eyes and on your lips that used not to be there, and all day long you sit by yourself and muse in silence; and you weep too at times, Adelais, when you fancy none is by to see you.  Tell me, sister mine, for the sake of the love that is between us, and for the sake of our father and mother who are dead, what cloud is this that overshadows you so?”

Long time he pressed and besought her, pleading by turns his power to help, and her need of tenderness; but yet Adelais was afraid to speak, for the love that was breaking her heart was unreturned.  So the next day he found her alone again, and prayed her to tell him her sorrow, that even if he could not help nor comfort her, they might at least lament together.  Then at last she bowed her head upon his breast, and told him of Maurice, and of his near departure for India, and of her own disregarded love; but not a word she said of Stephen, because she had promised him to hold her peace.  And when she had told her brother all, she laid her arms about his neck and cried, weeping, “Now you know everything that is in my heart, Phil; speak to me no more about it, but only promise to take me away with you when you go, that I may the sooner forget this place and all the sorrow and the pain I have suffered here.”

And Philip Cameron kissed her very tenderly, and answered, “Be at rest, sister, you shall have your will.”

But when the evening came, he went over to the house of the wine-merchant, and questioned him about Maurice, whether he cared for Adelais or no, and whether he had ever said a word to his father or brother of the matter.

“Ay, ay,” quoth the old gentleman, musingly, when Philip had ceased, “’Tis like enough if there be anything of the sort that the boys should talk of it between them, for, God be thanked, they were always very fond of each other; yet I never heard it spoken about.  But then youth has little in common with age, and when young men make confidences of this kind, it is to young men that they make them, and not to grey-beards like me.  But tell me, Cameron, for you know I must needs divine something from all this; your sister loves my boy Maurice?”

“If you think so, sir,” answered Philip, “you must keep her secret.”

“Cameron, Cameron,” cried the wine-merchant, “Adelais is failing and sickening every day.  Every day she grows whiter and sadder and more silent.  Don’t tell me it’s for love of Maurice!  It’s not possible such a woman as she is can love anybody in vain!  She’s an angel on earth, your sister Adelais!”