ooked out at the soft rain,
and a half-smile parted her lips.

"I see, Anne. Love once, love ever; and I suppose it was the same with
Val, in spite of his folly. I should have taken out my revenge by
marrying the first eligible man that offered himself. Talking of
that--is poor Mr. Graves married yet?"

"Yes, at last," said Anne, laughing. "A grand match too for him, poor
timid man: his wife's a lord's daughter, and as tall as a house."

"If ever man worshipped woman he worshipped you, though you were only a
girl."

"Nonsense, Laura."

"Anne, you knew it quite well; and so did Val. Did he ever screw his
courage up to the point of proposing?"

Anne laughed. "If he ever did, I was too vexed to answer him. He will be
very happy, Laura. His wife is a meek, amiable woman, in spite of her
formidable height."

"And now I want you to tell me one thing--How was it that Edward could
not be saved?"

For a moment Lady Hartledon did not understand, and turned her eyes on
the boy.

"I mean my brother, Anne. When news came out to India that he had died in
that shocking manner, following upon poor George--I don't care now to
recall how I felt. Was there _no_ one at hand to save him?"

"No one. A sad fatality seemed to attend it altogether. Val regrets his
brother bitterly to this day."

"And that poor Willy Gum was killed at sea, after all!"

"Yes," said Anne, shortly. "When you spoke of Edward," returning to the
other subject, "I thought you meant the boy."

Lady Laura shook her head. "He will never get well, Anne. Death is
written on his face."

"You would say so, if you saw him some days. He is excitable, and your
coming has roused him. I never saw any one fluctuate so; one day dying,
the next better again. For myself I have very little hope, and Mr.
Hillary has none; but I dare not say so to Margaret and the dowager."

"Why not?"

"It makes them angry. They cannot bear to hear there's a possibility of
his death. Margaret may see the danger, but I don't believe the dowager
does."

"Their wishes must blind them," observed Lady Laura. "The dowager seems
all fury and folly. She scarcely gave herself time to welcome me this
morning, or to inquire how I was after my long voyage; but began
descanting on a host of evils, the chief being that her grandson should
have had fever."

"She would like him to bear a charmed life. Not for love of him, Laura."

"What then?"

"I do not believe she has a particle of love fo