"I am not so sure of that. It seems to me rather a dangerous

responsibility to take her away from her own relations, unless there

were any with equal claims."

"They are her only relations, and her husband had none. Still to be

under the constant yoke of an overpowering woman with unfixed opinions

seems to be an unmitigated evil for her and her boys; and no one's

feelings need be hurt by her fixing herself near some public school for

her sons' education. However, she is settled for this year, and at the

end we may decide."

With which words he again applied himself to Ermine's correspondence,

and presently completed the letter, offering to direct the envelope,

which she refused, as having one already directed by the author.

He rather mischievously begged to see it that he might judge of the

character of the writing, but this she resisted.

However, in four days' time there was a very comical twinkle in his

eye, as he informed her that the new number of the "Traveller" was in no

favour at the Homestead, "there was such a want of original thought in

it." Ermine felt her imprudence in having risked the betrayal, but all

she did was to look at him with her full, steady eyes, and a little

twist in each corner of her mouth, as she said, "Indeed! Then we had

better enliven it with the recollections of a military secretary," and

he was both convinced of what he guessed, and also that she did not

think it right to tell him; "But," he said, "there is something in that

girl, I perceive, Ermine; she does think for herself, and if she were

not so dreadfully earnest that she can't smile, she would be the best

company of any of the party."

"I am so glad you think so! I shall be delighted if you will really talk

to her, and help her to argue out some of her crudities. Indeed she is

worth it. But I suppose you will hardly stay here long enough to do her

any good."

"What, are you going to order me away?"

"I thought your brother wanted you at home."

"It is all very well to talk of an ancestral home, but when it consists

of a tall, slim house, with blank walls and pepper-box turrets, set

down on a bleak hill side, and every one gone that made it once a happy

place, it is not attractive. Moreover, my only use there would be to

be kept as a tame heir, the person whose interference would be most

resented, and I don't recognise that duty."

"You are a gentleman at large, with no obvious duty," said Ermine,

meditatively.

"What, none?" bending his head, and looking earnestly at her.




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