y forehead with nice dry lips, and told me not to be at all
afraid.

"How many times have you been brave?" he inquired, to set me counting,
knowing from all his own children, perhaps, that nothing stops futile
tears and the waste of sobs like prompt arithmetic. "Six, if not seven,
times you have displayed considerable valor. Are you going to fall
away through some wretched imagination of your own? Now don't stop to
argue--time will not allow it. I have put Cosmopolitan Jack as well upon
the track of Captain Brown. I have not told you half of what I could
tell, and what I am doing; but never mind, never mind; it is better that
you should not know too much, my dear. Young minds, from their want of
knowledge of the world, are inclined to become uneasy. Now go to bed and
sleep soundly, Erema, for we have lots to do to-morrow, and you have had
a most worrying day to-day. To-morrow, of course, you must come with me
to Paris. You can parleyvoo better than I can."

However, as it happened, I did nothing of the kind, for when he came
back in the morning, and while he was fidgeting and hurrying me, and
vowing that we should lose the tidal train, a letter from Bruntsea was
put into my hand. I saw Mrs. Price's clear writing, followed by good
Aunt Mary's crooked lines, and knew that the latter must have received
it too late to be sent by her messenger. In few words it told me that
if I wished to see my cousin alive, the only chance was to start
immediately.

Shock and self-reproach and wonder came (as usual) before grief, which
always means to stay, and waits to get its mourning ready. I loved and
respected my cousin more deeply than any one living, save Uncle Sam; and
now to lose them both at once seemed much too dreadful to be true.
There was no time to think. I took the Major's cab, and hurried off to
Paddington, leaving him to catch his tidal train.

Alas! when I got to Castlewood, there was but a house of mourning!
Faithful Stixon's eyes were dim, and he pointed upward and said,
"Hush!" I entered with great awe, and asked, "How long?" And he said,
"Four-and-twenty hours now; and a more peacefuller end was never seen,
and to lament was sinful; but he was blessed if he could help it." I
told him, through my tears, that this was greatly to his credit, and he
must not crush fine feelings, which are an honor to our nature. And he
said that I was mistress now, and must order him to my liking.

I asked him to send Mrs. Price to m