t appear?' I
asked, for I was growing very uneasy. 'I wish you would tell me. What view
do you mean?'

'No view in particular; the view that a desolate old park, and the house of
a _neglected_ old man, who is very poor, and has been desperately foolish,
is not the right place for you, particularly at your years. It is quite
shocking, and I _will_ speak to Doctor Bryerly. May I ring the bell, dear?'

'Certainly;' and I rang it.

'When does he leave Knowl?'

I could not tell. Mrs. Rusk, however, was sent for, and she could tell
us that he had announced his intention of taking the night train from
Drackleton, and was to leave Knowl for that station at half-past six
o'clock.

'May Rusk give or send him a message from me, dear?' asked Lady Knollys.

Of course she might.

'Then please let him know that I request he will be so good as to allow me
a very few minutes, just to say a word before he goes.'

'You kind cousin!' I said, placing my two hands on her shoulders, and
looking earnestly in her face; 'you are anxious about me, more than you
say. Won't you tell me why? I am much more unhappy, really, in ignorance,
than if I understood the cause.'

'Well, dear, haven't I told you? The two or three years of your life which
are to form you are destined to be passed in utter loneliness, and, I am
sure, neglect. You can't estimate the disadvantage of such an arrangement.
It is full of disadvantages. How it could have entered the head of poor
Austin--although I should not say that, for I am sure I do understand
it,--but how he could for any purpose have directed such a measure is quite
inconceivable. I never heard of anything so foolish and abominable, and I
will prevent it if I can.'

At that moment Mrs. Rusk announced that Doctor Bryerly would see Lady
Knollys at any time she pleased before his departure.

'It shall be this moment, then,' said the energetic lady, and up she stood,
and made that hasty general adjustment before the glass, which, no matter
under what circumstances, and before what sort of creature one's appearance
is to be made, is a duty that every woman owes to herself. And I heard her
a moment after, at the stair-head, directing Branston to let Dr. Bryerly
know that she awaited him in the drawing-room.

And now she was gone, and I began to wonder and speculate. Why should
my cousin Monica make all this fuss about, after all, a very natural
arrangement? My uncle, whatever he might have been, was now a