ow not how to bear it--alone."

The last word was almost a whisper, and escaped Martin's ears. He
was regarding his child with a thoughtful and perplexed
countenance. He fancied that he was somewhat in the position of a
mother hen who sees its foster brood of ducklings take to the water
for the first time. He did not understand this outburst in the
least. Cherry's restless discontent was an enigma to him. But he
saw that it was real, and that it was a source of trouble and
suffering to herself; and he wisely resolved neither to rebuke nor
condemn her, but simply to treat it as the symptom of a malady of
the body which might be cured by a few months' change and
relaxation.

The child was half frightened at her own boldness, and stood
trembling before him, Her aunt would have boxed her ears and sent
her to bed for such a confession; but her father only looked at her
as though he were trying to read her very soul, and Cherry
instinctively dropped her eyes, as if fearful that another secret
would be read there--a secret which she kept locked up closely in
her breast, and would not for the world that any other should know.

"Cherry," said Martin Holt, speaking slowly and quietly, "I know
not what to think of thy words, save that thy disordered fancies
come from a disordered health. Thou hast been looking less robust
than I like to see thee; wherefore I think it well that thou
shouldest have some change in thy life, and see if that will cure
thee. Thy good aunt Prudence Dyson, a younger sister of thy mother,
has sent to ask me if I will spare her one of my daughters to help
wait upon some young madams staying with my Lady Humbert. Thou hast
not been brought up to such duties, but thou hast quick hands and
eyes, and, I trust, a willing heart, and I have resolved to send
thee. Thou wilt be in the country, and the change will doubtless be
good for thee. I shall look to receive thee back restored to thine
old self again. The Cross Way House stands south from this by some
seventeen miles, and is not very far away from the forest of which
Cuthbert used to talk, and Trevlyn Chase where his kinsfolk live.
Thou mayest hear somewhat of him there, for methinks the ladies
Wyvern are in some sort his kinsfolk, too. I marvel that all these
months have gone by without a word or a sign from him. Thou canst
ask if aught has been heard of him. I trust no mishap has befallen
the lad. He promised us news of himself ere now."

Had the room