The Clever Woman of the Family

"You had better see what she says," replied the Colonel, with suppressed

emotion.

That night, when Conrade and Francis were both fast asleep, their mother

and their governess sat over the fire together, languid but happy, and

told out their hearts to one another--told out more than Alison had

ever put into words even to Ermine, for her heart was softer and more

unreserved now than ever it had been since her sister's accident had

crushed her youth. There was thenceforth a bond between her and Lady

Temple that gave the young widow the strong-hearted, sympathizing,

sisterly friend she had looked for in Rachel, and that filled up those

yearnings of the affection that had at first made Alison feel that

Colin's return made the world dreary to her. Her life had a purpose,

though that purpose was not Ermine! But where were Edward and his

letter?