nt, though Fanny owned herself to have time now to pine for her
Stephana, and to "hear how dismal it is to have a silent nursery."

"Yes, it has been a fearful time. We little guessed how much risk you
ran when you went to the rescue."

"Dear Con, when he thought--when we thought he could not get better,
said I was not to mind that, and I don't," said Fanny. "I thought it was
right, and though I did not know this would come of it, yet you see God
has been very merciful, and brought both of my boys out of this dreadful
illness, and I dare say it will do them good all their lives now it is
over. I am sure it will to me, for I shall always be more thankful."

"Everything does you good," he said.

"And another thing," she added, eagerly, "it has made me know that dear
Miss Williams so much better. She was so good, so wonderfully good, to
come away from her sister to us. I thought she was quite gone the first
day, and that I was alone with my poor Francie, and presently there she
was by my side, giving me strength and hope by her very look. I want
to have her for good, I want to make her my sister! She would teach the
boys still, for nobody else could make them good, but if ever her sister
could spare her, she must never go away again."

"You had better see what she says," replied the Colonel, with suppressed
emotion.

That night, when Conrade and Francis were both fast asleep, their mother
and their governess sat over the fire together, languid but happy, and
told out their hearts to one another--told out more than Alison had
ever put into words even to Ermine, for her heart was softer and more
unreserved now than ever it had been since her sister's accident had
crushed her youth. There was thenceforth a bond between her and Lady
Temple that gave the young widow the strong-hearted, sympathizing,
sisterly friend she had looked for in Rachel, and that filled up those
yearnings of the affection that had at first made Alison feel that
Colin's return made the world dreary to her. Her life had a purpose,
though that purpose was not Ermine! But where were Edward and his
letter?

CHAPTER XXI. THE QUARTER SESSIONS.

"Is it so nominated in the bond?"--Merchant of Venice.

Malgre her disinclination, Rachel had reached the point of recovery in
which the fresh air and change of scene of the drive to Avoncester could
not fail to act as restoratives, and the first evening with the Dean and
his gentle old sister was r