Morris's care, that all agitating
conversation might be avoided. When Mr Hope returned, he found
Margaret sitting alone at the tea-table. If she had had no greater
power of self-control than her sister, Edward might have been made
wretched enough, for her heart was full of dismay: but she felt the
importance of the duty of supporting him, and he found her, though
serious, apparently cheerful.

"I have sent Hester to bed," said she, as he entered. "She was worn
out. Yes: just go and speak to her; but do not give her the opportunity
of any more conversation till she has slept. Tell her that I am going
to send her some tea; and by that time yours will be ready."

"Just one word upon the events of to-day," said Hope, as he took his
seat at the tea-table, after having reported that Hester was tolerably
composed:--"just one word, and no more. We must avoid bringing emotions
to a point--giving occasion for--"

"I entirely agree with you," said Margaret. "She requires to be drawn
out of herself. She cannot bear that opening of the sluices, which is a
benefit and comfort to some people. Let us keep them shut, and when it
comes to acting, see how she will act!"

"Bless you for that!" was on Hope's lips; but he did not say it. Tea
was soon dismissed, and he then took up the newspaper; and when that was
finished, he found he could not read to Margaret--he must write:--he had
a case to report for a medical journal.

"I hope I have not spoiled your evening," said Hester, languidly, when
her sister went to bid her good-night. "I have been listening; but I
could not hear you either laughing or talking."

"Because we have been neither laughing nor talking. My brother has been
writing--"

"Writing! To whom? To Emily, or to Anne?"

"To a far more redoubtable person than either: to the editor of some one
of those green and blue periodicals that he devours, as if they were
poetry. And I have been copying music."

"How tired you look!"

"Well, then, good-night!"

Margaret might well look tired; but she did not go to rest for long.
How should she rest, while her soul was sick with dismay, her heart
weighed down with disappointment, her sister's sobs still sounding in
her ear, her sister's agonised countenance rising up from moment to
moment, as often as she closed her eyes? And all this within the sacred
enclosure of home, in the very sanctuary of peace! All this where love
had guided the suffering one to marri