as not, perhaps, bad for either that they conversed under
difficulties, the boys continually coming back to them from excursions
on the rocks, and Rose holding her aunt's hand all the time, but to be
sure Rose had heard nearly all the Colonel's affairs, and somehow mixed
him up with Henry of Cranstoun.

Very tenderly towards Alison herself did Colin Keith speak. It was the
first time they had ever been brought into close contact, and she had
quite to learn to know him. She had regarded his return as probably a
misfortune, but it was no longer possible to do so when she heard his
warm and considerate way of speaking of her sister, and saw him only
desirous of learning what was most for her real happiness. Nay, he even
made a convert of Alison herself! She did believe that would Ermine but
think it right to consent, she would be happy and safe in the care of
one who knew so well how to love her. Terrible as the wrench would be to
Alison herself, she thought he deserved her sister, and that she would
be as happy with him as earth could make her. But she did not believe
Ermine would ever accept him. She knew the strong, unvarying resolution
by which her sister had always held to what she thought right, and did
not conceive that it would waver. The acquiescence in his visits, and
the undisguised exultant pleasure in his society, were evidences to
Alison not of wavering or relenting, but of confidence in Ermine's own
sense of impossibility. She durst not give him any hope, though she
owned that he merited success. "Did she think his visits bad for her
sister?" he then asked in the unselfishness that pleaded so strongly for
him.

"No, certainly not," she answered eagerly, then made a little hesitation
that made him ask further.

"My only fear," she said candidly, "is, that if this is pressed much on
her, and she has to struggle with you and herself too, it may hurt her
health. Trouble tells not on her cheerfulness, but on her nerves."

"Thank you," he said, "I will refrain."

Alison was much happier than she had been since the first apprehension
of his return. The first pang at seeing Ermine's heart another's
property had been subdued; the present state of affairs was
indefinitely-prolonged, and she not only felt trust in Colin Keith's
consideration for her sister, but she knew that an act of oblivion was
past on her perpetration of the injury. She was right. His original
pitying repugnance to a mere unknown child could n