-did
not like to think that Ralph Newton was at the villa with the girls
in his absence. His girls were as good as gold. He was sure of that.
He told himself over and over again that were it not so, he would
not have left them so constantly without his own care. Patience, the
elder, was a marvel among young women for prudence, conduct, and
proper feeling; and Clarissa, whom he had certainly ever loved the
better of the two, was as far as he knew faultless;--a little more
passionate, a little warmer, somewhat more fond of pleasure than her
sister; but on that account only the more to be loved. Nothing that
he could do would make them safer than they would be by their own
virtue. But still he was not pleased to think that Ralph Newton was
often at the villa. When a man such as Sir Thomas has been entrusted
with the charge of a young man with great expectations, he hardly
wishes his daughter to fall in love with his ward, whether his ward
be prudent or imprudent in his manner of life.

Sir Thomas was hot and tired after his walk, and there was some
little fuss in getting him soda-water and tea. And as it was plain to
see that things were not quite comfortable, Ralph Newton at last took
his departure, so as to catch the earlier of the two trains which had
been mentioned. It was, nevertheless, past ten when he went;--and
then Sir Thomas, sitting at the open window of the drawing-room,
again took out the letter. "Patience," he said, addressing his elder
daughter as he withdrew the enclosure from the envelope, "Mary Bonner
will be in England in a fortnight. What shall we do for her?" As he
spoke he held the letter in a manner which justified the girl in
taking it from his hand. He allowed it to go to her, and she read it
before she answered him.

It was a very sad letter, cold in its language, but still full
of pathos. Her friends in the West Indies,--such friends as she
had,--had advised her to proceed to England. She was given to
understand that when her father's affairs should be settled there
would be left to her not more than a few hundred pounds. Would her
uncle provide for her some humble home for the present, and assist
her in her future endeavours to obtain employment as a governess? She
could, she thought, teach music and French, and would endeavour to
fit herself for the work of tuition in other respects. "I know," she
said, "how very slight is my claim upon one who has never seen me,
and who is connected with me