ed to go just yet--not while the child lived--I turned
round in a really violent, naughty fit, with--"You too, Fulk, I thought
you loved your little brother better than that? You only want to be
rid of him, and leave him to Hester, and he will die in her hands."

Fulk began to say that the Court of Chancery never gave the custody to
the next heir. But I rushed away again to the nursery, and sat there,
devising plans of disguising myself in a close cap and blue spectacles,
and coming to offer myself as Lord Trevorsham's governess.

The child had no relations whatever on his mother's side, and though,
if he had been healthy, nurses and tutors might have taken care of this
baby lordship, even that would have been sad enough; and for the feeble
little creature, whose life hung on a thread, how was it to be thought
of? I fully made up my mind to stay, even if they all went. I told
Jaquetta, so--in my vehemence dashed all her bright anticipation, and
sent her again in tears to bed. I wish unhappiness would not make one
so naughty!

The next day poor Fulk was struck down. A letter came from Mrs.
Deerhurst to break off the engagement, and a great parcel containing
all the things he had given Emily. She must have packed them up before
leaving England, while she was still flattering him. Not a word nor a
line was there from Emily herself!--only a supplication from the mother
that he would not rend her child's heart by persisting--just as if she
had not encouraged him to go on all this time!

Nothing would serve him but that he must dash over to Paris, to see her
and Emily.

Railroads were not, and it was a ten days' affair at the shortest; and,
with all our prospects doubtful and Alured still so ill, it was very
trying. How Bertram did rave at the folly and futility of the
expedition! but one comfort was, that Alured was a ward of Chancery,
and, in the vast kindness and commiseration everyone bestowed upon us,
no one tried to hurry us or turn us out.

Hester used to come continually to inquire after her brother, and there
was something in her way that always made me shudder when she asked
after him. I knew she could not wish for his life, and gloated over
all the reports she could collect of his weakness. I felt more and
more horror of her; God forgive me for not having tried not to hate
her. I sometimes doubt whether my dread and distrust were not visible,
and may not have put it into her head.

And then came