d was engaged
for a time to that young Scotch laird--I never heard why the engagement
was broken off."

"Why are you deep in these reminiscences, aunt Leonora?" asked Hubert,
with an uneasiness which he tried to conceal by a nervous little laugh.
"I should have thought that you would be absorbed in anxiety for the
General; and, as for me, I want to know what the doctor says about the
dear old boy."

"I am absorbed in anxiety for him," said Miss Vane decisively; "and that
is just why I am calling these little details of Florence's history to
your mind. As to the General's health, the doctor says that we may be
easier about it now than we have been for many a day. The crisis that we
have been expecting has come and passed, and we may be thankful that he
is no worse. If he keeps quiet, he will be about again in a few days,
and may not have another attack for years."

"And Marion?"

"Ah, poor Marion! She is not long for this world, Hubert. I must be back
with her at twelve. Till then the nurse has possession and I am free.
Poor soul! It is a dark ending to what seemed a bright enough life. Her
mind has failed of late as much as her body."

Hubert could not reply.

"Sit down here," said Miss Vane, as they reached a rustic seat beneath a
great copper-beech-tree on the farther side of the lawn. "Here we can
see the house and be seen from it; if they want me, they will know where
to find me. I am not speaking at random, Hubert; there is a thing that I
want to say to you about your sister Florence."

Hubert seated himself at her side with a thrill of positive fear. Had
she some accusation to bring against his sister? He was miserably
conscious that he was quite unprepared to defend her against any
accusation whatsoever.

"What I mean first of all to say," Miss Vane proceeded, looking straight
before her at the house, "is that Florence is a girl of an unusual
character. She looks very mild and meek, but she is not mild and meek at
all. Most girls are, on the whole, affectionate and well-principled and
timid; Flossy is not one of the three."

"You are surely hard on her!"

"No, I am not. Long ago I made up my mind that she wanted to get
married; that is nothing--every girl of her disposition wants more or
less to be married. But I came across a piece of information the other
day which made me feel almost glad that poor Sydney's life ended as it
did. There was danger ahead."

"It is all done with now," said Hubert hu