the way to be happier, my poor boy, nor nearer to your brother and
mother.'

'Things didn't use to be stupid when Ned was there!' sobbed Gilbert,
bursting into a fresh flood of tears.

'Ah! Gilbert, I grieved most of all for _you_ when first I heard
your story, before I thought I should ever have anything to do with
you,' said Albinia, hanging over him fondly. 'I always thought it
must be so forlorn to be a twin left solitary. But it is sadder
still than I knew, if grief has made you put yourself farther from
him instead of nearer.'

'I shall be good again now that I have you,' said Gilbert, as he
looked up into that sweet face.

'And you will begin by making a free confession to your father, and
giving up the book.'

'I don't see what I have to confess. He would be so angry, and he
never told me not. Oh! I cannot tell him.'

She felt that this was not the right way to begin a reformation, and
yet she feared to press the point, knowing that the one was thought
severe, the other timid.

'At least you will give up the book,' she said.

'O dear! if you would let me see whether d'Artagnan got to England.
I must know that! I'm sure there can't be any harm in that. Do you