r; "she has been taken to task, I suppose,
for relieving her mind to you. But, Edward, this looks more and more as
if the news were true. My darling Margaret! How will it be with her?
Does it not look too like being true, love?"

"It looks as if Enderby's family all believed it, certainly. This note
settles the matter of our duty, however. If the affair is so private
that Mrs Enderby is to be punished for telling me, it is hardly likely
that Margaret will hear it by out-door chance. You are spared the task
for the present at least, my dear!"

"I should like to be sure that Margaret does not love--that she might
pass through life without loving," said Hester, sighing, "But here she
comes! Burn the note!"

The note curled in the flames, was consumed, and its ashes fluttered up
the chimney, and Margaret did not enter. She had gone straight
up-stairs. She did not come down till dinner was on the table. She was
then prepared with the announcement that the snow-boots might be looked
for very soon. She told of her visit to Widow Rye's, and had something
to say of the probability of snow; but she was rather absent, and she
took wine. These were all the circumstances that her anxious sister
could fix upon, during dinner, for silent comment. After dinner, having
eaten an orange with something like avidity, Margaret withdrew for a
very few minutes. As the door closed behind her, Hester whispered--

"She has heard. She knows. Is it not so?"

"There is no question about it," replied Hope, examining the screen he
held in his hand.

"I wonder who can have told her."

"Tellers of bad news are never wanting, especially in Deerbrook," said
Hope, with a bitterness of tone which Hester had never heard from him
before.

Margaret took up the other screen when she returned, and played with it
till the table was cleared, so that she could have the use of her
work-box. It was Morris who removed the dessert.

"Morris," said Mr Hope, as she was leaving the room, "I want Charles:
pray send him."

"Charles is out, sir."

"Out! when will he be back?"

"He will be back presently," said Margaret. "I sent him with a note to
Maria."

As she leant over her work again, Hester and her husband exchanged
glances.

An answer from Maria soon arrived. Margaret read it as she sat, her
brother and sister carefully withdrawing their observation from her.
Whatever else might be in the note, she read aloud the latter part--two