e _Lucania_ on the
15th, and intends crossing with them. You will just have time to
cable to put her off if you are dead, or otherwise incapacitated; but
I take it you will be glad to have a look at my girl. She's worth
looking at! I shall feel satisfied to know she is with you. She
might get up to mischief over here.

"Looking forward to seeing you later on,--Your brother, Edward
Briskett."

"_P S_--Dear Aunt Soph, don't you worry to prepare! I'll just chip
in, and take you as you are. We'll have some high old times!--Your
niece, Cornelia."

Letter and eye-glasses fell together upon Mrs Ramsden's knee. She
raised startled eyes, and blinked dumbly at her friend.

Miss Briskett wagged her head from side to side, and heaved a sepulchral
sigh.

The halcyon days of peace were over!

CHAPTER TWO.

"My dear," said Mrs Ramsden, solemnly, "this is indeed great news. I
don't wonder that you feel unnerved!"

"I do, indeed. The three o'clock post came in, and I was quite
surprised when Mary came in with the salver. I was not expecting any
letters. I have so few correspondents, and I am mostly in their debt, I
am afraid. Still, of course, there are always the circulars. I looked
for nothing more exciting, and then--_this_ arrived! I really felt that
I could not sit alone and think it out by myself all day long. I hope
you will forgive me for asking you to come over on such short notice."

"Indeed, I am flattered that you should wish to have me. Do tell me all
about this brother. He has lived abroad a long time, I think? It is
the eldest, is it not? The rich one--in America?"

"I believe he is rich for the moment. Goodness knows how long it may
last," sighed Miss Briskett, dolefully. "He speculates in mines, my
dear, and you know what _that_ means! Half the time he is a pauper, and
the other half a millionaire, and so far as I can gather from his
letters he seems just as well satisfied one way as another. He was
always a flighty, irresponsible creature, and I fear Cornelia has taken
after him."

"She is the only child?"

"Yes! She had an English mother, I'm thankful to say; but poor Sybil
died at her birth, and Edward never married again. He was devoted to
Sybil, and said he would never give another woman the charge of her
child. Such nonsense! As if any man on earth could look after a
growing girl, without a woman's help. Instead of a wise, judicious
stepmother, s