‘Most certainly not.’

‘Yes, you must tell her to be happy again,’ continued Sophy; ’I cannot bear to see her looking sorrowful!  Last night, when she fancied me asleep, she cried—­oh! till it made me miserable!  And to-day I heard Miss Ferrars say to Mrs. Annesley, that her fine spirits were quite gone.  You know it is very silly, for I am the last person in all the world she ought to cry for.’

‘She has an infinite treasure of love,’ said Mr. Kendal, ’and we have done very little that we should be blessed with it.’

‘There, they are come home!’ exclaimed Sophy, starting up as sounds were heard on the stairs, and almost at the same moment Albinia was in the room, overflowing with contrition, gladness, and anxiety; but something of sweetness in the first hasty greeting made the trust overcome all the rest; and, understanding his uppermost wish, she stepped back to the staircase, and in another second had put Maurice into his arms, blooming and contented, and with a wide-mouthed smile for his papa.  Mr. Kendal held him fondly through all the hospitable welcomes of the aunts, and his own explanations; but to Albinia it was all confusion, and almost annoyance, till she could take him upstairs, and tell her own story.

‘I am afraid you have been very much alarmed,’ were his first words.

‘I have done everything wrong from beginning to end,’ said Albinia.  ’Oh, Edmund, I am so glad you are come!  Now you will see the doctor, and know whether it was as bad as all the rest to bring her to London.’

’My dearest, you must calm yourself, and try to explain.  You know I understand nothing yet, except from your resolute little advocate downstairs, and your own note, which I could scarcely make out, except that you were in great trouble.’

’Ah, that note; I wrote it in one of my impetuous fits.  Maurice used to say I ran frantic, and grew irrational, and so I did not know what I was saying to you; and I brought that poor patient girl up here in all the heat, and the journey hurt her so much, that I don’t know how we shall ever get her home again.  Oh, Edmund, I am the worst wife and mother in the world; and I undertook it all with such foolish confidence.’

Mr. Kendal liked her impetuous fits as little as her brother did, and was not so much used to them; but he dealt with her in his quiet, straightforward way.  ’You are exaggerating now, Albinia, and I do not wonder at it, for you have had a great deal to startle and to try you.  Walking up and down is only heating and agitating you more; sit down here, and let me hear what gave you this alarm.’

The grave affection of his manner restrained her, and his presence soothed the flutter of spirits; though she still devoted herself with a sort of wilfulness to bear all the blame, until he said, ’This is foolish, Albinia; it is of no use to look at anything but the simple truth.  This affection of the spine must be constitutional, and if neglect have aggravated the evil, it must date from a much earlier period than since she has been under your charge.  If any one be to blame, it is myself, for the apathy that prevented me from placing the poor things under proper care, but I was hardly then aware that Maria’s solicitude is always in the wrong place.’