'Not uncalled for, perhaps,' said Aunt Jane. 'I hope you received it
in an edifying manner.'

'Now, Aunt Jane! Well, I believe I said we were as kind as she would
let us be, especially Mysie.'

Lady Merrifield here made the move to conduct her sisters to their
rooms; Miss Mohun detained her when they had reached hers, and had left
Adeline to rest on her sofa. The two, though very unlike, had still
the habits of absolute confidential intimacy belonging to sisters next
in age.

'Lily,' said Miss Mohun, 'Gillian spoke of a note. Did Maurice give
you any directions about this child's correspondence?'

'You know I did not see him. I was so much disappointed. I would give
anything to have talked her over with him.'

'I am not sure that you would have gained much. I doubt whether he
knows much about her, poor fellow. But the letters?'

'He wrote that she had been a good deal with Professor Sefton's family,
and he thought they might like to keep up their intercourse.'

'Nothing about Flinders? He ought to have warned you.'

'No. Who is he?'

'A half-brother--no, a step-brother to poor Mary. He was the son by a
former marriage of her father's first wife, and has been always a thorn