Margaret was heard to say to little Ned, over whom
she was bending her head as he stood by her side. "Stand still here,"
she continued, with wonderful cheerfulness of tone; "I want to hear your
mamma tell us about Uncle Philip." With the effort her strength
rallied, and the paleness was gone before Mrs Rowland had turned round.

"How long the engagement has existed," said the lady, "I cannot venture
to say. I speak only of the attachment. Young people understand their
own affairs, you know, and have their little mysteries, and laugh behind
our backs, I dare say, at our ignorance of what they are about. Philip
has been sly enough as to this, I own: but I must say I had my
suspicions. I was pretty confident of his being engaged from the day
that he told me in the summer, that he fully agreed with me that it was
time he was settled."

"How differently some people understood that!" thought Hester and
Margaret at the same moment.

"Is Mr Enderby at Rome now?" asked Hester.

"No: he is hard at work, studying law. He is really going to apply to a
profession now. Not that it would be necessary, for Mary has a very
good fortune. But Mary wishes so much that he should--like a sensible
girl as she is."

"It is what I urged when he consulted me," thought Margaret. She had
had little idea whose counsel she was following up.

"We shall soon hear of his setting off for the Continent, however, I
have no doubt," said the lady.

"To bring home his bride," observed Margaret, calmly.

"Why, I do not know that. The Bruces will be returning early in the
spring; and I should like the young people to marry in town, that we may
have them here for their wedding trip."

"How you do hug me!" cried the laughing little boy, around whom
Margaret's arm was passed.

"Have I made you warm at last?" asked Margaret. "If not, you may go and
stand by the fire."

"No, indeed; we must be going," said mamma. "As I find this news is
abroad, I must call on Mrs Grey. She will take offence at once, if she
hears it from anybody but me. So much for people's husbands being
partners in business!"

Margaret was now fully qualified to comprehend her sister's
irritability. Every trifle annoyed her. The rustle of Mrs Rowland's
handsome cloak almost made her sick; and she thought the hall clock
would never have done striking twelve. When conscious of this, she put
a strong check upon herself.

Hester stood by the mantelpiece, looking int