rtable; it had always seemed to her that she was in the way;
her mother disapproved of her; while from Helena she had never had a
sisterly word. To go out to India to see the wonders she had read of,
and to be her uncle's companion, seemed a perfectly delightful prospect.
Her answer to her uncle was sent off the day after she received his
letter, and that day month she stepped on board an Indiaman in the
London Docks.

The intervening time had not been a pleasant one. Mrs. Hannay had heard
from the Major of his wishes and intentions regarding Isobel, and she
was greatly displeased thereat.

"Why should he have chosen you instead of Helena?" she said angrily to
Isobel, on the first day of her arrival home.

"I suppose because he thought I should suit him better, mamma. I really
don't see why you should be upset about it; I don't suppose Helena would
have liked to go, and I am sure you would not have liked to have had
me with you instead of her. I should have thought you would have been
pleased I was off your hands altogether. It doesn't seem to me that you
have ever been really glad to have me about you."

"That has been entirely your own fault," Mrs. Hannay said. "You have
always been headstrong and determined to go your own way, you have never
been fit to be seen when anyone came, you have thwarted me in every
way."

"I am very sorry, mamma. I think I might have been better if you had had
a little more patience with me, but even now if you really wish me to
stay at home I will do so. I can write again to uncle and tell him that
I have changed my mind."

"Certainly not," Mrs. Hannay said. "Naturally I should wish to have my
children with me, but I doubt whether your being here would be for the
happiness of any of us, and besides, I do not wish your uncle's money
to go out of the family; he might take it into his head to leave it to
a hospital for black women. Still, it would have been only right and
proper that he should at any rate have given Helena the first choice.
As for your instant acceptance of his offer, without even consulting me,
nothing can surprise me in that way after your general conduct towards
me."

However, although Mrs. Hannay declined to take any interest in Isobel's
preparations, and continued to behave as an injured person, neither she
nor Helena were sorry at heart for the arrangement that had been
made. They objected very strongly to Isobel's plan of going out as a
governess; but upon the