here.'

'This island, that I thought so far away, and almost in foreign parts,'
said Violet, smiling; 'I hope it has cured me of foolish terrors.'

'You will bravely make up your mind to Martindale.'

'I shall like to show Johnnie the peacock,' said Violet, in a tone as if
seeking for some pleasant anticipation.

John laughed, and said, 'Poor Johnnie! I shall like to see him there in
his inheritance.'

'Dear little man! I hope his grandfather will think him grown. I am glad
they did not see him while he was so tiny and miserable. I am sure they
must like him now, he takes so much notice.'

'You must not be disappointed if my mother does not make much of him,'
said John; 'it was not her way with her own.'

Then, as Violet looked aghast, 'You do not know my mother. It requires
a good deal to show what she can be, beneath her distant manner. I never
knew her till two years ago.'

'When you were past thirty!' broke from Violet's lips, in a sort of
horror.

'When I was most in need of comfort,' he answered. 'There has been
a formality and constraint in our life, that has not allowed the
affections their natural play, but indeed they exist. There have been
times when even I distrusted my mother's attachment; but she could not
help it, and it was all the stronger afterwards. Madeira taught me what
she is, away from my aunt.'

'I do hope it is not wrong to feel about Mrs. Nesbit as I do! I am ready
to run away from her. I know she is spying for my faults. Oh! I cannot
like her.'

'That is a very mild version of what I have felt,' said John; 'I believe
she has done us all infinite harm. But I am hardly qualified to speak;
for, from the time she gave up the hope of my being a credit to the
family, she has disliked me, said cutting things, well-nigh persecuted
me. She did harass Helen to give me up; but, after all, poor woman, I
believe I have been a great vexation to her, and I cannot help being
sorry for her. It is a pitiable old age, straining to keep hold of what
used to occupy her, and irritated at her own failing faculties.'

'I will try to think of that,' said Violet.

'I wonder what powers she will give me over her West Indian property;
I must try,' said John; 'it will make a great difference to my
opportunities of usefulness. I must talk to my father about it.'

'How very kind Theodora is to poor little Miss Piper,' said Violet.

'Yes; that is one of Theodora's best points.'

'Oh! she is so very good;