d promising one; but she was
in pain, and Margaret must go and pass the night with her. How thankful
were they all now, that some one had thought of Maria! She had been in
extreme anxiety for them; and she would not certainly have sent for aid
before the morning. It was indeed a blessing that some one had thought
of Maria.

CHAPTER TWENTY NINE.

COMING TO AN UNDERSTANDING.

Mr Enderby was too angry with his sister to see her that night. He
went straight to his room, at his mother's old house, and did not
breakfast with the Rowlands. He knocked at their door when breakfast
was finished, and sent to request Mrs Rowland's presence in the
drawing-room. All this had given the lady time to prepare her mood, and
some very clever and bold sayings but when the interview was over, she
was surprised to find how some of these sayings had gone out of her
mind, and how others had remained there, for want of opportunity to
speak them; so that she had not made nearly so good a figure as she had
intended.

There was all due politeness in Enderby's way of inducing his sister to
sit down, and of asking after the health of herself and her children.

"We are all wonderfully improved, thank you, brother. Indeed I have
hopes that we shall all enjoy better health henceforward than we have
ever known. Mr Walcot's care will be new life to us."

"Whose care?"

"Mr Walcot's. We brought him with us last night; and he is to go at
once into my mother's house. He is a surgeon of the first degree of
eminence. I think myself extremely fortunate in having secured him.
The chief reason, however, of my inviting him here was, that my poor
mother might be properly taken care of. Now I shall be at peace on her
account, which I really never was before. Now that she will be in good
hands, I shall feel that I have done my duty."

"And, pray, does Rowland know of your having brought this stranger
here?"

"Of course. Mr Walcot is our guest till his own house can be prepared
for him. As I tell you, he arrived with me, last night."

"And now let me tell you, sister, that either Mr Walcot is not a man of
honour, or you have misinformed him of the true state of affairs here: I
suspect the latter to be the case. It is of a piece with the whole of
your conduct, towards Mr Hope--conduct unpardonable for its
untruthfulness, and hateful for its malice."

Not one of Mrs Rowland's prepared answers would suit in this place.
Before she could