accident?"

"Entirely, he thinks. He calls himself in perfect health."

"Well, he ought to know best; but--"

"But what?" asked Hester, anxiously.

"It has occurred to us, that he may still want watching and care. It
has struck both Mr Grey and me, that he is not quite the same that he
was before that accident. It is natural enough. And yet I thought in
the autumn that he was entirely himself again: but there is still a
little difference--a little flatness of spirits sometimes--a little more
gravity than used to be natural to him."

"But you do not think he looks ill? Tell me just what you think."

"Oh, no, not ill; rather delicate, perhaps; but I am sure it is
wonderful that he is so well after such an accident. He calls himself
perfectly well, does he?"

"Perfectly."

"Oh, then, we may be quite easy; for he must know best. Do not let
anything that I have said dwell upon your mind, my dear. I only just
thought I would ask."

How common it is for one's friends to drop a heavy weight upon one's
heart, and then desire one not to let it dwell there! Hester's spirits
were irrecoverably damped for this evening. Her husband seemed to be an
altered man, flat in spirits, and looking delicate, and she told not to
be uneasy! She was most eager for the entrance of the gentlemen from
the dining-room, that she might watch him and, till they came, she had
not a word of amusement to furnish to her guests. Margaret perceived
that something had gone wrong and talked industriously till reinforced
from the dining-room.

Sophia whispered a hint to her mother to inquire particularly about Mrs
Enderby's health. At the mention of her name Mr Hope took his seat on
the sofa beside Mrs Grey, and replied gravely and fully--that he
thought Mrs Enderby really very unwell--more so than he had ever known
her. She was occasionally in a state of great suffering, and any
attention that her old friends could show her in the way of a quiet call
would be a true kindness. Had he alarmed her family? There was quite
hint enough for alarm, he said, in the state in which her relations saw
her at times. But Mrs Rowland was always trying to make out that
nothing was the matter with her mother: was it not so? Not exactly so.
Mrs Rowland knew that there was no immediate danger--that her mother
might live many months, or even a few years; but Mr Hope believed
neither Mrs Rowland, nor any one else, could deny her sufferings.

"They say