not safe that you should come backwards and forwards," said
Ermine. "Rose must not be put in danger; so, dear, dear Ailie, you had
better take your things up, and only look in on us now and then at the
window."

Alison entirely broke down. "Oh, Ermine, Ermine, since you began to
mend, not one night have we been apart!"

"Silly child," said Ermine, straining her quivering voice to be
cheerful, "I am strong, and Rose is my best little handmaid."

"I know it is right," said Alison, "I could not keep from my boys, and,
indeed, now Colin is gone, I do not think any one at Myrtlewood will
have the heart to carry out the treatment. It will almost kill that dear
young mother to see it. No, they cannot be left; but oh, Ermine, it is
like choosing between you and them."

"Not at all, it is choosing between right and wrong."

"And Ermine, if--if I should be ill, you must not think of coming near
me. Rose must not be left alone."

"There is no use in talking of such things," said Ermine, resolutely,
"let us think of what must be thought of, not of what is in the only
Wise Hands. What has been done about the other children?"

"I have kept them away from the first; I am afraid for none of them but
Conrade."

"It would be the wisest way to send them, nurses and all, to Gowanbrae."

"Wise, but cool," said Alison.

"I will settle that," returned Ermine. "Tibbie shall come and invite
them, and you must make Lady Temple consent."

The sisters durst not embrace, but gazed at one another, feeling that
it might be their last look, their hearts swelling with unspoken prayer,
but their features so restrained that neither might unnerve the other.
Then it was that Alison, for the first time, felt absolute relief in the
knowledge, once so bitter, that she had ceased to be the whole world to
her sister. And Ermine, for one moment, felt as if it would be a way out
of all troubles and perplexities if the two sisters could die together,
and leave little Rose to be moulded by Colin to be all he wished; but
she resolutely put aside the future, and roused herself to send a few
words in pencil, requesting Tibbie to step in and speak to her.

That worthy personage had fully adopted her, and entering, tall and
stately, in her evening black silk and white apron, began by professing
her anxiety to be any assistance in her power, saying, "she'd be
won'erfu' proud to serve Miss Williams, while her sister was sae thrang
waitin' on her young schola