"Nothing at all," said Grace. "What did you hear?"

"Only a little drowning, and a compound fracture or two," said he,

relapsing into his languid ease as he gave his bridle to a groom, and

walked with them towards the house.

"There, how very annoying!" exclaimed Rachel, "though, of course, the

smallest adventure does travel."

"I may venture to hope that neither are you drowned, nor my sister's

leg broken, nor a celebrated professor and essayist 'in a high fever wi'

pulling any of you out of the sea.'"

"There, Grace," exclaimed Rachel; "I told you he was something

distinguished."

"My dear Rachel, if his celebrity be in proportion to the rest of the

story."

"Then there really was a rescue!" exclaimed Captain Keith, now with much

more genuine anxiety; and Rachel recollecting her desire that the right

version should have the precedence, quickly answered, "There was no

danger, only Don slipped down into that curved cove where we walked one

day with the boys. I went down after him, but he had broken his leg. I

could not get up with him in my arms, and Bessie called some one to help

me."

"And why could not Bessie help you herself?"

"Oh! strangers can never climb on our slippery rocks as we can."

"Moreover, it would have spoilt the predicament," muttered the brother

to himself; then turning round with a smile, "And is the child behaving

herself?"

Grace and Rachel answered in a eager duet how she was charming every

one, so helpful, so kind, so everything.

"Ah!" he said with real satisfaction, apparent in the eyes that were

so pleasant when open wide enough to be visible; "I knew she always did

better when I was not there."

They were by this time entering the hall, which, in the confident

fashion of the sea-side, stood open; and at the moment Fanny came

tripping downstairs with her dress looped up, and a shady hat on her

head, looking fearfully girlish, thought her cousins, though her attire

was still rigidly black.

"Oh, I am so glad to see you; Don is so much better, Rachel, and Conrade

wants to thank you. He went up yesterday, and was so sorry you were out.

Might it not have been dreadful, Alick? I have been so wanting to tell

you how very delightful that dear sister of yours is. All the boys are

distracted about her. Come out please. She has been teaching the boys

such a delightful game; so much nicer than cricket, for I can play with

them."

Alick and Rachel could not but exchange a glance, and at the same

moment, emerging through the screen of shrubs on the lawn, Bessie Keith,

Conrade, Francis, and Leoline, were seen each with a mallet in hand and

a gay ball in readiness to be impelled through the hoops that beset the

lawn.




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