ve such torture to Frederick, as to excuse the
upbraiding eyes which he turned on his poor perplexed mother whenever
she entered the room; and her fresh arrangements and orders always
created a disturbance, which created such positive injury, that it was
the aim of the whole family to prevent her visits there. This was,
as may be supposed, no easy task. Grandpapa's "You had better not, my
dear," checked her for a little while, but was far from satisfying her:
Uncle Geoffrey, who might have had the best chance, had not time to
spare for her; and no one could persuade her how impossible, nay, how
dangerous it was to attempt to reason with the patient: so she blamed
the whole household for indulging his fancies, and half a dozen times
a day pronounced that he would be the death of his mother. Beatrice did
the best she could to tranquillise her; but two spirits so apt to clash
did not accord particularly well even now, though Busy Bee was too much
depressed to queen it as usual. To feel herself completely useless in
the midst of the suffering she had occasioned was a severe trial; and
above all, poor child, she longed for her mother, and the repose of
confession and parental sympathy. She saw her father only at meal times;
she was anxious and uneasy at his worn looks, and even he could not be
all that her mother was. Grandpapa was kind as ever, but the fault that
sat so heavy on her mind was not one for discussion with any one but a
mother, and this consciousness was the cause of a little reserve with
him, such as had never before existed between them.

Alexander was more of a comfort to her than any one else, and that
chiefly because he wanted her to be a comfort to him. All the strong
affection and esteem which he really entertained for Frederick was now
manifested, and the remembrance of old rivalries and petty contentions
served but to make the reaction stronger. He kept aloof from his
brothers, and spent every moment he could at the Hall, either reading in
the library, or walking up and down the garden paths with Queen Bee. One
of the many conversations which they held will serve as a specimen of
the rest.

"So they do not think he is much better to-day?" said Alex, walking into
the library, where Beatrice was sealing some letters.

Beatrice shook her head. "Every day that he is not worse is so much
gained," said she.

"It is very odd," meditated Alex: "I suppose the more heads have in
them, the easier it is to kno