ke to leave you alone to encounter, and she is a
valuable little assistant. Besides you have been without her so long, it
is your turn to keep her now."

"No, no, no," she repeated, though not without an effort, "it is best as
it is settled for all, and decidedly so for me, for with her to write
to me about you every day, and to look after you, I shall be a hundred
times more at ease than if I thought you were working yourself to death
with no one to remonstrate."

So it remained as before decided, and the pain that the decision cost
both mother and daughter was only to be inferred by the way in which
they kept close together, as if determined not to lose unnecessarily one
fragment of each other's company; but they had very few moments alone
together, and those were chiefly employed in practical matters, in
minute directions as to the little things that conduced to keep Lady
Susan in good humour, and above all, the arrangements for papa's
comfort. There was thus not much time for Beatrice to spend with
Henrietta, nor indeed would much have resulted if there had been more.
As she grew more at ease about her brother, Henrietta had gradually
resumed her usual manner, and was now as affectionate to Beatrice as
ever, but she was quite unconscious of her previous unkindness, and
therefore made no attempt to atone for it. Queen Bee had ceased to think
of it, and if a reserve had grown up between the two girls, they neither
of them perceived it.

Mr. Geoffrey Langford and his daughter set out on their return to London
so early the next morning that hardly any of the family were up; but
their hurried breakfast in the grey of morning was enlivened by Alex,
who came in just in time to exchange some last words with Uncle Geoffrey
about his school work, and to wish Queen Bee good-bye, with hopes of a
merrier meeting next summer.

CHAPTER XVI.

Mrs. Geoffrey Langford had from the first felt considerable anxiety
for her sister-in-law, who, though cheerful as ever, began at length to
allow that she felt worn out, and consented to spare herself more than
she had hitherto done. The mischief was, however, not to be averted, and
after a few days of increasing languor, she was attacked by a severe
fit of the spasms, to which she had for several years been subject at
intervals, and was obliged to confine herself entirely to her own room,
relying with complete confidence on her sister for the attendance on her
son.

It was t