red her almost incapable of walking, and she
was also extremely susceptible of cold, and therefore hardly ever went
out; but there was so much youth and life about her at sixty-three that
she and Annaple often seemed like companion sisters, and her shrewd,
keen, managing eldest-born like their mother.

Annaple lay down beside her on her bed in the morning twilight, and
gave her the history of the accident in playful terms indeed. Annaple
could never help that, but there was something in her voice that made
Lady Ronnisglen say, when satisfied about Janet's hurt, 'You've more to
say, Nannie dear.'

'Yes, minnie mine, I walked home with Mark Egremont.'

'And--?'

'Yes, minnie. He is going to work and make a home--a real, true,
homely home for you and me.'

'My child, my child, you have not hung the old woman about the poor
boy's neck!'

'As if I would have had him if he did not love her, and make a mother
of her!'

'But what is he going to do, Nan? This is a very different thing
from--'

'Very different from Janet's notions!' and they both laughed, the
mother adding to the mirth by saying--

'Poor Janet, congratulating herself that no harm had been done, and
that you had never taken to one another!'

'Did she really now?'

'Oh yes, only yesterday, and I bade her not crow too soon, for I
thought I saw symptoms--'

'You dear darling minnie! Think of that! Before we either of us knew
it, and when he is worth ever so much than he was before! Not but that
I am enraged when people say he has acted nobly, just as if there had
been anything else for him to do!'

'I own that I am glad he has proved himself. I was afraid he would be
dragged in the way of his uncle. Don't be furious, Nannie. Not at all
into evil, but into loitering; and I should like to know what are his
prospects now.'

'Well, mother, I don't think he has any. But he means to have. And
not a word is to be said to anybody except you and his father and May
till he has looked over the top of the wall, and seen his way. We need
not bring Janet down on us till then.'

'I must see him, my dear. Let me see him before he goes away. He
always has been a very dear lad, a thoroughly excellent right-minded
fellow. Only I must know what he means to do, and whether there is any
reasonable chance of employment or fixed purpose.'

Lady Ronnisglen's maid here arrived with her matutinal cup of tea; and
Annaple, beginning to perceive that she was v