that the moment of
separation had exhausted all. Her character made Honora especially
regret her destiny; it was one only too congenial to the weeds that were
more likely to be implanted, than plucked up, at Castle Blanch. Captain
Charteris had written to say that he, and probably his brother, should
come to Sandbeach to relieve Miss Charlecote from the care of the
children, and she prized each day while she still had those dear little
voices about the house.

'Sweet Honey,' said Lucilla, who had been standing by the window,
apparently watching the rain, 'do Uncle Charteris and Uncle Kit want us
to go away from you?'

'I am very much afraid they do, my dear.'

'Nurse said, if you would ask them, we might stay,' said Lucilla, tracing
the course of a drop with her finger.

'If asking would do any good, my dear,' sighed Honor; 'but I don't think
nurse knows. You see, you belong to your uncles now.'

'I won't belong to Uncle Charteris!' cried Lucilla, passionately. 'I
won't go to Castle Blanch! They were all cross to me; Ratia teased me,
and father said it was all their fault I was naughty, and he would never
take me there again! Don't let Uncle Kit go and take me there!' and she
clung to her friend, as if the recollection of Uncle Kit's victory by
main force hung about her still.

'I won't, I won't, my child, if I can help it; but it will all be as your
dear father may have fixed it, and whatever he wishes I know that his
little girl will do.'

Many a dim hope did Honora revolve, and more than ever did she feel as if
a piece of her heart would be taken away, for the orphans fastened
themselves upon her, and little Owen stroked her face, and said naughty
Uncle Kit should not take them away. She found from the children and
nurse that about a year ago, just after the loss of the baby, there had
been a most unsuccessful visit at Castle Blanch; father and little ones
had been equally miserable there in the separation of the large
establishment, and Lucilla had been domineeringly petted by her youngest
cousin, Horatia, who chose to regard her as a baby, and coerced her by
bodily force, such as was intolerable to so high-spirited a child, who
was a little woman at home. She had resisted, and fallen into dire
disgrace, and it was almost with horror that she regarded the place and
the cousinhood. Nurse appeared to have some private disgust of her own,
as well as to have much resented her children's being convicted