ess of the life
he had hitherto led. He had applied himself diligently to the study of
the law, intending to prove to himself and to her, that he was capable
of toil, and of a steady aim at an object in life, before he asked her
to decide what their relation to each other was henceforth to be.

"Surely," said he, "you might have discovered this much from my letters
to my mother."

"And how were we to know what was in your letters to your mother?"

"Do you mean that you have not read or heard them all this time?"

"Not a word for these three months. We have scarcely seen her for many
weeks past; and then she merely showed us what long letters you wrote
her."

"And they were all written for you! She told me, the last time I was
here, that she could keep nothing from you: and, relying upon her words,
I have supposed this to be a medium of communication between us
throughout. I could have no other, you know. When did my mother leave
off reading my letters to you?"

"From the week you went away last. Mrs Rowland came in while we were
in the midst of one; and the consequence was--"

"That you have been in the dark about me ever since. You saw that I did
write?"

"Yes. I have seen most of the post-marks--and the interiors--upside
down. But Mrs Rowland was always there--or else Phoebe."

"And have you really known nothing about me whatever?"

"Little George told me that you had lessons to learn, very hard and very
long, and, if possible, more difficult than his."

"And did not you see then that I was acting upon your views?"

"I supposed Miss Bruce might have had them first."

"Miss Bruce!" he cried, in a tone of annoyance. "I know nothing of Miss
Bruce's views on any subject. I cannot conceive how my sister got such
a notion into her head--why she selected her."

Margaret was going to mention the "sisterly affection" which had long
subsisted between Miss Bruce and Mrs Rowland, according to the latter;
but it occurred to her that it was just possible that Philip might not
be altogether so indifferent to Miss Bruce as Miss Bruce was to him; and
this thought sealed her lips.

"I wonder whether Rowland believed it all the time," said Philip: "and
Hope? It was unworthy of Hope's judgment--of his faith--to view the
case so wrongly."

"I am glad you are beginning to be angry with somebody else," said
Margaret. "Your wrath seemed all to be for me: but your old friends,
even to your mother, appear to ha