uietest corner of the room, a figure at which she
scarcely dared to look.

'And there you are!' so went her thoughts. 'It is true then! Fairly
caught! Your lofty crest vailed at last--and at such a time! O, Tom,
generous and true-hearted, in spite of all your nonsense! How could
she help being touched? In the net and against his will! Oh, triumph
of womanhood! I am so glad! No, I'm not, it is best this way, for
what an awkward mess it would have been! She is dear Leonard's sister,
to be sure, and there is stuff in her, but papa does not take to her,
and I don't know whether she would fit in with Tom himself! But oh!
the fun it would have been to see Flora's horror at finding her one
prudent brother no better than the rest of us! Dear old Tom! The May
heart has been too strong for the old Professor nature! What a
retribution for his high mightiness! Harry and Richard to be guarded
from making fools of themselves! What a nice cloak for jealousy! But
it is no laughing matter! How miserable, how thoroughly upset, he is!
Poor dear Tom! If I could only go and kiss you, and tell you that I
never loved you half so well; but you would rather die than let out one
word, I know! Why, any one of the others would have had it all out
long ago! And I don't know whether it is quite safe to screen the lamp
from those aching eyes that are bearing it like a martyr! There!
Well, maybe he will just stand the knowing that I know, provided I
don't say a word; but I wish people would not be so "self-contained!"'

Self-contained Tom still continued in the morning, though looking
sallow and wan; but, in a political argument with his father, he was
snappish and overbearing, and in the course of the day gave another
indication of being thrown off his balance, which was even harder for
Ethel to endure.

Throughout the suspense on Leonard's account, Aubrey had been a source
of anxiety to all, especially to Tom. The boy's sensitive frame had
been so much affected, that tender dealings with him were needful, and
all compulsion had been avoided. His father had caused him to be put on
the sick-list of the volunteers; and as for his studies, though the
books were daily brought out, it was only to prevent the vacuum of
idleness; and Tom had made it his business to nurse his brother's
powers, avoid all strain on the attention, and occupy without exciting,
bearing with his fitful moods of despondence or of hope, whether they
took th