same moment, nurse came to say something about Margaret, and he
seized the opportunity of withdrawing his hand, and hurrying away, in
good time, for he was pale as death, and was obliged to sit down on
the head of the stairs, and lean his head against Etheldred.

"What does make me so ridiculous?" he exclaimed faintly, but very
indignantly.

The first cure was the being forced to clear out of Mr. Ward's way,
which he could not effect without being seen; and Ethel though she
knew that he would be annoyed, was not sorry to be obliged to remain,
and tell what was the matter with him. "Oh," said Mr. Ward, turning
and proceeding to the dining-room, "I'll set that to rights in a
minute, if you will ask for a tumbler of hot water Miss Ethel."

And armed with the cordial he had prepared, Ethel hunted up her
brother, and persuaded him, after scolding her a little, to swallow
it, and take a turn in the garden; after which he made a more
successful attempt at visiting his father.

There was another room whither both Norman and Etheldred wished to
go, though they dared not hint at their desire. At last Richard came
to them, as they were wandering in the garden, and, with his usual
stillness of manner, shaded with additional seriousness, said, "Would
you like to come into the study?"

Etheldred put one hand into his, Norman took the other, and soon they
stood in that calm presence. Fair, cold, white, and intensely still
--that face brought home to them the full certainty that the warm
brightening look would never beam on them, the soft blue eyes never