uardian's!" said Alick, with the desired effect of
making him laugh.

"No, if you were my son, I would not interfere," he added gravely. "I
only feared your not knowing what you were about. I see you do know it,
and it merely becomes a question of every man to his taste--except for
one point, Alick. I am afraid there may have been much disturbance of
her opinions."

"Surface work," said Alick, "some of the effects of the literature that
paints contradiction as truth. It is only skin deep, and makes me wish
all the more to have her with my uncle for a time. I wonder whether
Grace would let me in if I went back again!"

No, Grace was obdurate. Mr. Frampton had spoken of a nervous fever,
and commanded perfect quiescence; and Grace was the less tempted to
transgress the order, because she really thought her mother was more
in love with "dear Alexander" than Rachel was. Rachel was exceedingly
depressed, restless, and feverish, and shrank from her mother's
rejoicing, declaring that she was mistaken, and that nothing more must
be said. She had never consented, and he must not make such a sacrifice;
he would not when he knew better. Nay, in some moods, Rachel seemed
to think even the undefined result of the interview an additional
humiliation, and to feel herself falling, if not fallen, from her
supreme contempt of love and marriage. The hurry, and the consent
taken for granted, had certainly been no small elements in her present
disturbed and overwhelmed state; and Grace, though understanding the
motive, was disposed to resent the over-haste. Calm and time to think
were promised to Rachel, but the more she had of both the more they hurt
her. She tossed restlessly all night, and was depressed to the lowest
ebb by day; but on the second day, ill as she evidently was, she
insisted on seeing Captain Keith, declaring that she should never be
better till she had made him understand her. Her nurses saw that she
was right; and, besides, Mrs. Curtis's pity was greatly touched by dear
Alexander's entreaties. So, as a desperate experiment, he was at last
allowed to go into the dressing-room, where she was lying on the sofa.
He begged to enter alone, only announced by a soft knock, to which she
replied with a listless "Come in," and did not look up till she suddenly
became conscious of a footfall firmer though softer than those she was
used to. She turned, and saw who it was who stood at a window opposite
to her feet, drawing up the Ve