"Nor on anything else," said Ermine, smiling.

"You have never heard my ways and means," he said, "and as a prudent

woman you ought, you know. See," taking out his tablets, "here is my

calculation."

"All that!"

"On the staff in India there were good opportunities of saving; then out

of that sum I bought the house, and with my half-pay, our income will be

very fair, and there would be a pension afterwards for you. This seems

to me all we can reasonably want."

"Unless I became like 'die Ilsebill' in the German tale. After four

years of living from hand to mouth, this will be like untold gold.

To wish to be above strict economy in wheeled chairs has seemed like

perilous discontent in Rose and me."

"I have ventured on the extravagance of taking the ponies and little

carriage off my brother's hands, it is low enough for you, and I shall

teach Rose to ride one of the ponies with me."

"The dear little Rose! But, Colin, there is a dreadful whisper about

her going with her father, and Ailie too! You see now his character is

cleared, he has been offered a really lucrative post, so that he could

have them with him."

"Does he wish it?"

"I dare not ask. I must be passive or I shall be selfish. You are all

my world, and Edward has no one. Make them settle it without me. Talk of

something else! Tell me how your brother is to be taken care of."

"There cannot be a better nurse than Alick Keith; and Ferguson, the

agent, is there, getting directions from Keith whenever he can bear it.

I am best out of the way of all that. I have said once for all that I

will do anything for them except live at Gowanbrae, and I am sick of

demonstrating that the poor child's existence is the greatest possible

relief to me; and I hope now not to go back till the whole is settled

and done with."

"You look regularly worn out with the discussions!"

"It was an endless business! The only refreshment was in now and then

getting over to Bishopsworthy."

"What? to Rachel?" said Ermine archly.

"Rachel is showing to great advantage. I did not think it was in her to

be so devoted to the child, and it is beautiful to see her and Mr. Clare

together."

"There's a triumph," said Ermine, smiling. "Do you grant that the happy

medium is reached, that Alick should learn to open his eyes and Rachel

to shut hers?"

"Well! Her eyes are better, but he, poor lad, has been in no spirits

to open his very wide. The loss of his sister went very deep, and

those aguish attacks, though they become much slighter, make him look

wretchedly ill. I should have doubted about leaving him in charge in his

present state, but that he was urgent on me, and he is spared all the

night nursing. Any way, I must not leave him longer than I can help. I

may have one week with you at home--at our home, Ermine."




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