at was nothing to what came afterwards. Would you believe it,
Captain Burnett?--mamma had heard every word. When I left Cyril, I found
her crouching on the stairs in a dark corner. Oh, I shall never forget
the turn it gave me! She had got her arms over her head, and they seemed
quite stiff, and her fingers were clenched. Biddy was crying over her;
but she did not move or speak, and it was quite an hour before we could
get her into her own room.'

'You ought to have sent for the doctor.'

'Biddy would not let us; she said it was only sorrow of heart, and that
she had seen her once before like that, when her husband died. What
makes Biddy say that, Captain Burnett, if our father be still living?'

Michael shook his head.

'Biddy chooses to persist in her falsehood. I have seen your father,
Mollie. I am very sorry for him; with all his faults, he loves his
children.' Then a low sound like a groan escaped Kester's lips. 'And I
think his children should be sorry for him, too; he has had a hard,
unhappy life. But there is no time to talk of this now; I want you to
finish about last night, and then I must go upstairs.'

'There is nothing more to tell. We could not induce mamma to undress or
to go to bed, so Biddy covered her up and told me to go away. She was
with her all night. With all her crossness and tiresome ways, Biddy is
always good to mamma; she was talking to her almost as though she were a
baby, for I stood and listened a minute before I closed the door. I
could hear her say:

'"Miss Olive avick, what was the good of telling the children? You
should hush it up for Mr. Cyril's sake, and for the sake of the dear
young lady he is going to marry." But he is not going to marry her;
mamma said so more than once.'

And then, in a few grave words, Michael told them all that it was
necessary for them to know.

'Poor, poor Cyril! Oh, my dear Miss Ross!' was all Mollie could say.
Kester seemed nearly choking.

'Let me go to him, dear Mollie. But I think I will see your mother
first. Biddy seems to be a bad adviser. After all, she may require a
doctor.'

And then he put his hand on Kester's shoulder and whispered something
into his ear. Mollie could not hear what it was, but she saw the boy's
face brighten a little as he took up Booty to prevent him from following
his master.

CHAPTER XLI

'THERE SHALL BE PEACE BETWEEN US'

'Men exist for the sake of one another. Teach them, then, or bear
with