d not have been what other people's love was, or
I should not have shrunk from the sight and look of him. If it had
been only poverty that was coming, it would have been a different
thing; but to be nameless impostors!

Mrs. Deerhurst had gone out on a round of visits, when Emily came to
us, taking her younger daughter. They were not a very letter-writing
family. It is odd how some people's pen is a real outlet of
expression; while others seem to lack the nerve that might convey their
thoughts to it, even when they live in more sympathy than Emily could
well have had with her mother.

At least, so I understand, what afterwards we wondered at, that Emily
never mentioned Hester; only saying, when, after some days she did
write, that Lord Trevorsham was ill.

So Fulk had the one comfort of being with her when he was out of the
sick room. I used to see them from the window walking up and down the
terrace in the blue east wind haze of those March days, never that I
could see speaking. I don't think my brother would have felt it
honourable to tie one additional link between himself and her. He had
not a doubt as to how her mother would act, but to be in her dear
little affectionate presence was a better help than we could give him,
even though nothing passed between them.

Jaquetta used to wonder at them, and then try to go on the same as
usual; and would wander about the garden and park with her dogs, and
bring us in little anecdotes, and do all the laughing over them
herself. Poor child! she felt as if she were in a bad dream, and these
were efforts to shake it off, and wake herself.

After all, nothing was ever so bad as those ten days! But, my brother
always said he was thankful for the respite and time for thought which
they gave him.

CHAPTER III.

THE PEERAGE CASE.

The end came suddenly at last, when we were thinking my dear father
more tranquil. He passed away in sleep late one evening, just ten days
after Hester's arrival. She had gone back to her lodgings, and we did
not send to tell her till the morning; but by nine o'clock she was in
the house.

We had crept down to breakfast, Jaquetta and I, feeling very dreary in
the half-light, and as if desolation had suddenly come on us; and when
we heard her fly drive up to the door, Jaquetta cried out almost
angrily, "Torwood, how could you!" and we would have run away, but he
said, "Stay, dear girls; it is better to have it over."

As she c