"And thus," he proceeded, "that the sincere friendship with which

you still regard him would prevent any encouragement to continue an

attachment, unhappily now hopeless and obstructive to his prospects."

Ermine's eyes flashed at the dictation. "Lord Keith," she said, "I have

never sought your brother's visits nor striven to prolong them; but if

he finds pleasure in them after a life of disappointment and trouble, I

cannot refuse nor discourage them."

"I am aware," said Lord Keith, rising as if to go, "that I have

trespassed long on your time, and made a suggestion only warranted by

the generosity with which you have hitherto acted."

"One may be generous of one's own, not of other people's," said Ermine.

He looked at her puzzled, then said, "Perhaps it will be best to speak

categorically, Miss Williams. Let it be distinctly understood that my

brother Colin, in paying his addresses to you, is necessarily without my

sanction or future assistance."

"It might not be necessary, my lord. Good morning;" and her courteous

bow was an absolute dismissal.

But when Alison came home she found her more depressed than she had

allowed herself to be for years, and on asking what was the matter was

answered-"Pride and perverseness, Ailie!" then, in reply to the eager

exclamation, "I believe he was justified in all he said. But, Ailie, I

have preached to Colin more than I had a right to do about forgiving his

brother. I did not know how provoking he can be. I did not think it was

still in me to fly out as I did!"

"He had no business to come here interfering and tormenting you," said

Alison, hotly.

"I dare say he thought he had! But one could not think of that when it

came to threatening me with his giving no help to Colin if--There was no

resisting telling him how little we cared!"

"You have not offended him so that he will keep Colin away!"

"The more he tried, the more Colin would come! No, I am not sorry for

having offended him. I don't mind him; but Ailie, how little one knows!

All the angry and bitter feelings that I thought burnt out for ever when

I lay waiting for death, are stirred up as hotly as they were long ago.

The old self is here as strong as ever! Ailie, don't tell Colin about

this; but to-morrow is a saint's day, and would you see Mr. Touchett,

and try to arrange for me to go to the early service? I think then I

might better be helped to conquer this."

"But, Ermine, how can you? Eight o'clock, you know."

"Yes, dearest, it will give you a great deal of trouble, but you never

mind that, you know; and I am so much stronger than I used to be, that

you need not fear. Besides, I want help so much! And it is the day Colin

goes away!"




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