intention of carrying him off to her own nursery establishment, which
had been left in Scotland with a head nurse, whose name came in with
every fourth word--that is, if he lived at all, which she seemed to
think a hopeless matter.

She spoke of "poor dear Bessie," with such affection as was implied in
"Oh, she was such a darling! I got on with her immensely. Why didn't you
send to me, though I don't know that Donald would have let me come," and
she insisted on learning the whole history, illustrating it profusely
with personal experiences. Rachel was constantly hoping to be released
from a subject so intensely painful; but curiosity prevailed through
the chatter, and kept hold of the thread of the story. Mrs. Menteith
decidedly thought herself defrauded of a summons. "It was very odd of
them all not to telegraph for me. Those telegrams are such a dreadful
shock. There came one just as I set out from Timber End, and I made sure
little Sandie was ill at home, for you know the child is very delicate,
and there are so many things going about, and what with all this
dreadful business, I was ready to faint, and after all it was only a
stupid thing for Uncle Colin from those people at Avoncester."

"You do not know what it was?"

"Somebody was convicted or acquitted, I forget which, but I know it had
something to do with Uncle Colin's journey to Russia; so ridiculous of
him at his age, when he ought to know better, and so unlucky for all the
family, his engagement to that swindler's sister. By-the-bye, did he not
cheat you out of ever so much money?"

"Oh, that had nothing to do with it--it was not Miss Williams's
brother--it was not he that was tried."

"Wasn't he? I thought he was found guilty or something; but it is very
unfortunate for the family, for Uncle Colin won't give her up, though
she is a terrible cripple, too. And to tell you a secret, it was his
obstinacy that made papa marry again; and now it is of no use, this poor
little fellow will never live, and this sharper's sister will be Lady
Keith after all! So unlucky! Papa says she is very handsome, and poor
Bessie declares she is quite ladylike."

"The most superior person I ever knew," said Rachel, indignantly.

"Ah, yes, of course she must be very clever and artful if her brother is
a swindler."

"But indeed he is not, he was cheated; the swindler was Maddox."

"Oh, but he was a glass-blower, or something, I know, and her sister is
a governess. I am su