bbing his little
red hands between her own. And then she could say a great many things
to him about learning to slide, and the difficulty of keeping on the
snow-man's nose, and about her wonder that they had not thought of
putting a pipe into his mouth. Before this subject was finished, Mrs
Rowland turned full round to Margaret, and said that the purpose of her
visit was to explain fully something that her poor mother had let drop
yesterday to Mr Hope. Her mother was not what she had been--though,
indeed, she had always been rather apt to let out things that she should
not. She found that Mr Hope had been informed by her mother of her
brother Philip's engagement to a charming young lady, who would indeed
be a great ornament to the connexion.

"I assure you," said Margaret, "my brother is very careful, and always
remembers that he is upon honour as to what he hears in a sick-room. He
has not mentioned it."

"Oh! then it is safe. We are much obliged to Mr Hope, I am sure. I
said to my mother--`My dear ma'am,'--"

"But I must mention," said Margaret, "that the news was abroad before...
I must beg that you will not suppose my brother has spoken of it, if
you should find that everybody knows it. I heard it from Dr Levitt
yesterday, about the same time, I fancy, that Mr Hope was hearing it
from Mrs Enderby."

Hester sat perfectly still, to avoid all danger of showing that this was
news to her.

"How very strange!" exclaimed the lady. "I often say there is no
keeping anything quiet in Deerbrook. Do you know where Dr Levitt got
his information?"

"No," said Margaret, smiling. "Dr Levitt generally knows what he is
talking about. I dare say he had it from some good authority. The
young lady is at Rome, I find."

"Are you acquainted with Miss Bruce?" asked Hester, thinking it time to
relieve Margaret of her share of the conversation.

Margaret started a little on finding that her sister had heard the news.
Was it possible that her brother and sister had been afraid to tell
her? No: it was a piece of Edward's professional discretion. His wife
alone had a right to the news he heard among his patients.

"Oh, yes!" replied Mrs Rowland; "I have long loved Mary as a sister.
Their early attachment made a sister of her to me an age ago."

"It has been a long engagement, then," said Hester, glad to say anything
which might occupy Mrs Rowland, as Margaret's lips were now turning
very white.

"Not now, my dear,"