uke again. She married
young and settled down in London, and when, in a few years, her husband
died, she too, renounced Christianity."

To tell the truth, Rose was not deeply interested in the story, it fell
a little flat after her expectations of a tragedy. It had, moreover, a
sort of missionary flavor, and she had till the last few months lived in
India, and had grown heartily tired of the details of mission work,
in which both her father and mother had been interested. Conversions,
relapses, heathenism, belief and unbelief were words which had sounded
so often in her ears that now they bored her; as they were the merest
words to her it could hardly be otherwise. But Rose's best point was her
loyalty to her own family, she had the "clan" feeling very strongly,
and she could not understand how her mother could have allowed such a
complete estrangement to grow up between her and her nearest relations.

"Mamma," she said, quickly, "I should have gone to see Uncle Luke if I
had been you."

"It is impossible, dear," replied Mrs. Fane-Smith. "Your father would
not allow it for one thing, and then only think what people would say!
This is partly my reason for telling you, Rose; I want to put you upon
your guard. We heard little or nothing of your uncle when we were in
India, but you will find it very different here. He is one of the most
notorious men in England; you must never mention his name, never allude
to him, do you understand me?"

"Is he then so wicked?"

"My dear, consider what his teaching is, that is sufficient; I would
not for the whole world allow our Greyshot friends to guess that we
are connected with him in any way. It might ruin all your prospects in
life."

"Mamma," said Rose, "I don't think Mr. Raeburn will injure my
prospects--of course you mean prospects of marrying. If a man didn't
care enough for me to take me whether I am the niece of the worst man in
England or not, do you think I would accept him?"

There was an angry ring in her voice as she spoke, her little saucy
mouth looked almost grand. After a moment's pause, she added, more
quietly, but with all the force of the true woman's heart which lay
hidden beneath her silliness and frivolity, "Besides, mamma, is it quite
honest?"

"We are not bound to publish our family history to the world, Rose. If
any one asked me, of course I should tell the truth; if there was any
way of helping my brother or his child I would gladly serve them, even