"She is right," said Ermine; "I am thankful that he is out of reach of

trying to take a share in the nursing, it is bad enough to have one in

the midst!"

"Yes," said Alison. "Lady Temple cannot be left to bear this grievous

trouble alone, and when the Homestead cannot help her. Yet, Ermine, what

can be done? Is it safe for you and Rose?"

"Certainly not safe that you should come backwards and forwards," said

Ermine. "Rose must not be put in danger; so, dear, dear Ailie, you had

better take your things up, and only look in on us now and then at the

window."

Alison entirely broke down. "Oh, Ermine, Ermine, since you began to

mend, not one night have we been apart!"

"Silly child," said Ermine, straining her quivering voice to be

cheerful, "I am strong, and Rose is my best little handmaid."

"I know it is right," said Alison, "I could not keep from my boys, and,

indeed, now Colin is gone, I do not think any one at Myrtlewood will

have the heart to carry out the treatment. It will almost kill that dear

young mother to see it. No, they cannot be left; but oh, Ermine, it is

like choosing between you and them."

"Not at all, it is choosing between right and wrong."

"And Ermine, if--if I should be ill, you must not think of coming near

me. Rose must not be left alone."

"There is no use in talking of such things," said Ermine, resolutely,

"let us think of what must be thought of, not of what is in the only

Wise Hands. What has been done about the other children?"

"I have kept them away from the first; I am afraid for none of them but

Conrade."

"It would be the wisest way to send them, nurses and all, to Gowanbrae."

"Wise, but cool," said Alison.

"I will settle that," returned Ermine. "Tibbie shall come and invite

them, and you must make Lady Temple consent."

The sisters durst not embrace, but gazed at one another, feeling that

it might be their last look, their hearts swelling with unspoken prayer,

but their features so restrained that neither might unnerve the other.

Then it was that Alison, for the first time, felt absolute relief in the

knowledge, once so bitter, that she had ceased to be the whole world to

her sister. And Ermine, for one moment, felt as if it would be a way out

of all troubles and perplexities if the two sisters could die together,

and leave little Rose to be moulded by Colin to be all he wished; but

she resolutely put aside the future, and roused herself to send a few

words in pencil, requesting Tibbie to step in and speak to her.




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