ng. But if he has
any such trouble you ought to be made aware of it, and I feel sure that
he would tell you if you were here." Much more she said, arguing in the
same way, and pressing Florence to come to London.

Mr. Burton did not at once send a reply to his mother, but he wrote the
following note to Harry:

ADELPHI--May, 186--

My Dear Clavering:--I have been sorry to notice your continued
absence from the office, and both Cecilia and I have been very sorry
that you have discontinued coming to us. But I should not have
written to you on this matter, not wishing to interfere in your own
concerns, had I not desired to see you specially with reference to
my sister. As I have that to say to you concerning her which I can
hardly write, will you make an appointment with me here; or at my
house? Or, if you cannot do that, will you say when I shall find you
at home? If you will come and dine with us we shall like that best,
and leave you to name an early day; to-morrow, or the next day, or
the day after. "Very truly yours,

"THEODORE BURTON."

When Cecilia's letter reached Stratton, and another post came without
any letter from Harry, poor Florence's heart sank low in her bosom.
"Well, my dear," said Mrs. Burton, who watched her daughter anxiously
while she was reading the letter. Mrs. Burton had not told Florence of
her own letter to her son; and now, having herself received no answer,
looked to obtain some reply from that which her daughter-in-law had
sent.

"Cecilia wants me to go to London," said Florence.

"Is there anything the matter that you should go just now?"

"Not exactly the matter, mamma; but you can see the letter."

Mrs. Burton read it slowly, and felt sure that much was the matter. She
knew that Cecilia would have written in that strain only under the
influence of some great alarm. At first she was disposed to think that
she herself would go to London. She was eager to know the truth--eager
to utter her loud maternal bleatings if any wrong were threatened to her
lamb. Florence might go with her, but she longed herself to be on the
field of action. She felt that she could almost annihilate any man by
her words and looks who would dare to ill-treat a girl of hers.

"Well, mamma--what do you think?"

"I don't know yet, my dear. I will speak to your papa before dinner."
But as Mrs. Burton had been usually autocratic in the management of her
own da