elp being
proud and glad of belonging to him still; and he always told me not to
be shy and creeping into the nursery out of every one's way."

The tears were so happy now that he felt that the wound was healed, and
that he might venture to leave her, only asking first, "And now what
would you like me to do? Shall I try to persuade my brother to come away
from this place?"

"Oh, but then every one would find out why, and that would be dreadful!
Besides, you are only just come. And Miss Williams--"

"Do not let that stand in your way."

"No, no. You will be here to take care of me. And his going now would
make people guess; and that would be worse than anything."

"It would. The less disturbance the better; and if you upset his plans
now, he might plead a sort of right to renew the attempt later. Quiet
indifference will be more dignified and discouraging. Indeed, I little
thought to what I was exposing you. Now I hope you are going to rest, I
am sure your head is aching terribly."

She faintly smiled, and let him give her his arm to the foot of the
stairs.

At first he was too indignant for any relief save walking up and down
the esplanade, endeavouring to digest the unfairness towards himself
of his brother's silence upon views that would have put their joint
residence at Avonmouth on so different a footing; above all, when the
Temple family were his own peculiar charge, and when he remembered how
unsuspiciously he had answered all questions on the money matters,
and told how all was left in the widow's own power. It was the more
irritating, as he knew that his displeasure would be ascribed to
interested motives, and regarded somewhat as he had seen Hubert's
resentment treated when Francis teased his favourite rabbit. Yet not
only on principle, but to avoid a quarrel, and to reserve to himself
such influence as might best shield Lady Temple from further annoyance,
he must school himself to meet his brother with coolness and patience.
It was not, however, without strong effort that he was able to perceive
that, from the outer point of view, one who, when a mere child, had
become the wife of an aged general, might, in her early widowhood, be
supposed open to the addresses of a man of higher rank and fewer years,
and the more as it was not in her nature to look crushed and pathetic.
He, who had known her intimately throughout her married life and in her
sorrow, was aware of the quiet force of the love that had grow