her hand tenderly on his shoulder, "I wish you had
found some one you could have loved, John."

"So did I--for a time," he said, lightly. "But you see, it was not to
be."

She shook her head, standing against the firelight in the dark room, so
that he could not see her face. "I wish," she said, "I wish--that I saw
you with a nice wife, John."

"You might wish--to see me on the woolsack, aunt."

"Well--and it might come to pass. I shall see you high up--if I live
long enough; but I wish I was as sure of the other, John."

"Well," he said with a laugh, "I did my best; but there is no use in
struggling against fate."

No, indeed! how very, very little use there was. He had kept away from
them for nearly two years; while he had done his best in the meantime to
get a permanent tenant for his heart which should prevent any wandering
tendencies. But he had not succeeded; and now if ever a man could be put
in circumstances of danger it was he. If he did not appear in time for
their walk Elinor would call him. "Aren't you coming, John?" And she
overflowed in talk to him of everything--excepting always of that one
dark passage in her life of which she never breathed a word. She asked
him about his work, and about his prospects, insisting upon having
everything explained to her--even politics, to which he had a tendency,
not without ideas of their use in reaching the higher ranks of his
profession. Elinor entered into all with zest and almost enthusiasm. She
wrapped him up in her sympathy and interest. There was nothing he did
that she did not wish to know about, did not desire to have a part in.
A sister in this respect is, as everybody knows, often more full of
enthusiasm than a wife, and Elinor, who was vacant of all concerns of
her own (except the baby) was delighted to take up these subjects of
excitement, and follow John through them, hastening after him on every
line of indication or suggestion which he gave--nay, often with her
lively intelligence hastening before him, making incursions into
undiscovered countries of which he had not yet perceived the importance.
They walked over all the country, into woods which were a little damp,
and up hill-sides where the scramble was often difficult enough, and
along the side of the lake--or, for a variety, went rowing across to
the other side, or far down the gleaming water, out of sight, round
the wooded corner which, with all its autumnal colours, blazed like
a brilliant se