I went away?"

"Yes, dear, most of the time, and have been worried to think you were
travelling about in Boston this excessive warm day."

"It has not hurt me in the least; I only enjoy this cool breeze all the
more--it is such a contrast to the heat and dust of the city!"

"But, Gerty," said Emily, stopping short in their walk, "what are you
coming away from the house for? You have not been to tea, my child."

"I know it, Emily, but I don't want any supper."

They walked slowly and in perfect silence. At last Emily said, "Well,
Gertrude, have you nothing to tell me?"

"O yes, a great deal, but----"

"But you know it will be sad news to me, and so you don't like to speak
it; is it not so?"

"I ought not to have the vanity, dear Emily, to think it would trouble
you very much; but ever since last evening, when I told you what Mr. W.
said, and what I had in my mind, and you seemed to feel so badly at the
thought of our being separated, I have felt almost doubtful what it was
right for me to do."

"And I, on the other hand, Gertrude, have been reproaching myself for
allowing you to have any knowledge of my feeling in the matter, lest I
should be influencing you against your duty. I feel that you are right,
Gertrude, and that, instead of opposing, I ought to do everything I can
to forward your plans."

"Dear Emily!" said Gertrude, "if you thought so from what I told you
yesterday, you would be convinced had you observed all that I have
to-day."

"Why! Are matters any worse than they were at Mrs. Sullivan's?"

"Much worse than I described to you. I did not then know all that she
had to contend with; but I have been at their house since I left home
this morning (for Mr. W. did not detain me five minutes), and it does
not seem safe for such a delicate woman as Mrs. Sullivan to be alone
with Mr. Cooper, now that his mind is in such a state."

"But do you think you can do any good?"

"I know I can, dear Emily; I can manage him much better than she can,
and do more for his comfort. He is like a child now, and full of whims.
When he can be indulged, Mrs. Sullivan will please him at any amount of
inconvenience, and even danger to herself, not only because he is her
father, and she feels it her duty, but she is afraid of him, he is so
irritable and violent. She tells me he often takes it into his head to
do the strangest things, such as going out late at night, when it is
unsafe, and sleeping with his window wide ope