Mr. Ernescliffe followed her out of the room, and tried to console
her, as she looked at him in despair.

"You see he is quite himself, quite collected," he said; "you heard
now clear and coherent his questions were."

"Can't it be helped? Do try to stop him till I can send to Mr.
Ward."

"I will try, but I think he is in a state to judge for himself.
I do, upon my word; and I believe trying to prevent him would be more
likely to do him harm than letting him satisfy himself. I really
think you need not be alarmed."

"But you know," said Flora, coming nearer, and almost gasping as she
whispered and signed towards the door, "she is there--it is mamma's
room, that will tell all."

"I believe he knows," said Alan. "It was that which made him faint
after the accident, for he had his perceptions fully at first. I
have suspected all day that he was more himself than he seemed, but
I think he could not bear to awaken his mind to understand it, and
that he was afraid to hear about her--your sister, so that our
mention of her was a great relief, and did him good. I am convinced
he knows the rest. Only go on, be calm, as you have been, and we
shall do very well."

Flora went to prepare. Ethel eagerly undertook to send to Mr. Ward,
and hastened from the room, as if in a sort of terror, shrinking
perhaps from what might lead to an outburst of grief. She longed to