fated to make such mistakes!"

"Preconceived notions," said Ermine, smiling; "your theory suffices you,
and you don't see small indications."

"There may be something in that," said Rachel, thoughtfully, "it
accounts for Grace always seeing things faster than I did."

"Did Mr.--, your philanthropist, bring you this today?" said the
Colonel, taking up the paper again, as if to point a practical moral to
her confession of misjudgments.

"Mr. Mauleverer? Yes; I came down as soon as he had left me, only
calling first upon Fanny. I am very anxious for contributions. If
you would only give me a paper signed by the 'Invalid,' it would be a
fortune to the institution."

Ermine made a vague answer that she doubted whether the 'Invalid' was
separable from the 'Traveller,' and Rachel presently departed with her
prospectus, but without having elicited a promise.

"Intolerable!" exclaimed the Colonel. "She was improving under Bessie's
influence, but she has broken out worse than ever. 'Journal of Female
Industry!' 'Journal of a Knight of Industry,' might be a better title.
You will have nothing to do with it, Ermine?"

"Certainly not as the 'Invalid,' but I owe her something for having let
her run into this scrape before you."

"As if you could have hindered her! Come, don't waste time and brains on
a companion for Curatocult."

"You make me so idle and frivolous that I shall be expelled from
the 'Traveller,' and obliged to take refuge in the 'Female Industry
Journal.' Shall you distribute the prospectuses?"

"I shall give one to Bessie! That is if I go at all."

"No, no, there is no valid reason for staying away. Even if we were sure
that Rose was right, nothing could well come of it, and your absence
would be most invidious."

"I believe I am wanted to keep Master Alick in order, but if you have
the least feeling that you would be more at ease with me at home--"

"That is not a fair question," said Ermine, smiling. "You know very well
that you ought to go."

"And I shall try to bring back Harry Beauchamp," added the Colonel. "He
would be able to identify the fellow."

"I do not know what would be gained by that."

"I should know whom to watch."

Ermine had seen so much of Rose's nervous timidity, and had known so
many phantoms raised by it, that she attached little importance to the
recognition, and when she went over the matter with her little niece, it
was with far more thought of the effect of the terror, a