‘Oh, mamma, don’t stay with me.  You are much too busy.’

’No, I am not.  The children are out, and grandmamma asleep, and I am going to write to Lucy, but there’s no hurry.  Let me cool your forehead a little longer.’

‘How I hate being another bother!’

’I like you much better so, than when you would not let me speak to you, my poor child.’

‘I could not,’ she said, stifling her voice on the cushion, and averting her head; but in a few moments she made a great effort, and said, ’You think me unforgiving, mamma.  It was not entirely that.  It was hating myself for an old fancy, a mere mistake.  I have got over it; and I will not be in error again.’

’Sophy dear, if you find strength in pride, it will only wound yourself.’

‘I do not think I am proud,’ said Sophy, quietly.  ’I may have been headstrong, but I despise myself too much for pride.’

’Are you sure it was mere fancy?  It was an idea that occurred to more than to you.’

‘Hush!’ cried Sophy.  ’Had it been so, could he have ridiculed Lucy?  Could he have flown out so against papa?  No; that caricature undeceived me, and I am thankful.  He treated us as cousins—­no more—­he would act in the same manner by any of the Miss O’Mores of Ballymakilty, nay, by Jane Northover herself.  We did not allow for Irish manner.’

’If so, he had no right to do so.  I shall never wish to see him here again.’

’No, mamma, he did not know the folly he had to deal with.  Next time I meet him, I shall know how to be really indifferent.  Now, this is the last time we will mention the subject!’

Albinia obeyed, but still hoped.  It was well that hope remained, for her task was heavier than ever; Mrs. Meadows was feebler, but more restless and wakeful, asking twenty times in an hour for Mrs. Kendal.  The doctors thought it impossible that she should hold out another fortnight, but she lived on from day to day, and at times Albinia hardly could be absent from her for ten minutes together.  Sophy was so completely knocked up that she could barely creep about the house, and was forbidden the sick-room; but she was softened and gentle, and was once more a companion to her father, while eagerly looking forward to devoting herself to Gilbert.

A letter with the Malta post-mark was eagerly opened, as the harbinger of his speedy arrival.

’Royal Hotel, Malta,
February 10th, 1855.

’Dearest Mrs. Kendal,

’I am afraid you will all be much disappointed, though your grief cannot equal mine at the Doctor’s cruel decree.  We arrived here the day before yesterday, but I had been so ill all the voyage with pain in the side and cough, that there was no choice but to land, and call in Dr.——­, who tells me that my broken rib has damaged my lungs so much, that I must keep perfectly quiet, and not think of going home till warm weather.  If I am well enough to join by that time, I shall not see