d in life. I have
considered the desirability of a lady companion for you, but no one
presents herself to me at present, and I see no alternative but for the
child to remain here with you until he is old enough for school. I
shall spend every alternate Sunday here, and Penelope will do all that
is necessary. You, Angelica, are of an age when young ladies should
know something of housekeeping. As for the boy, he appears to have
been thoroughly spoilt and mismanaged, and I can only say that if I
find that you indulge him in such exhibitions as--as we have already
seen, I must make other arrangements. You understand me?'

'Yes, Cousin Crayshaw,' said Angel quietly.

She sat down again, and took up her wool-work, but her fingers trembled
so that the needle missed the proper holes. Betty dropped down on to a
stool at her feet, and they sat in silence while Mr. Crayshaw took the
lamp to a side table and began to write. Presently Betty stole
upstairs, and at nine o'clock Angel too rose, went over to her cousin,
and held out her hand.

'Good night, Cousin Crayshaw,' she said.

Her cousin gave a look at her as she stood in the lamplight in her
white dress and black ribbons. She was pale still, and he could see
she had been crying, and felt sorry that he had hurt her. He had
always thought of her as a little schoolgirl, but this evening it
seemed as if she were growing into a woman. He took her hand, and held
it a little longer than usual.

'Good night, Angelica,' he said, and then he cleared his throat and
added:

'I feel sure that you will be a good girl, a--a sensible girl.'

'I will try to,' Angel said gently, and she went upstairs.

Betty was in the little room opening out of their own which the sisters
had chosen for Godfrey. She was kneeling by the little boy's bed,
looking at him, and almost holding her breath lest she should wake him.

'Fast asleep, dear little darling!' she whispered. 'Oh, Angel, how
could he? Wicked man! Fancy if he hadn't us to protect him.'

'Hush,' whispered Angelica gravely, 'hush; you mustn't, Betty.'

She stooped down and dropped a light kiss on Godfrey's hair, and then
drew her sister away from the bed to the window. The mists had cleared
away, there was going to be a frost, and overhead the stars were bright.

Angel leaned against the window-frame and looked out with very serious
eyes. 'Betty,' she said softly, 'we must never say a word about--about
what happened d