not been, we should have thought so all the same, you know, and been
quite as furious."

He could not help smiling, recollecting fury that, in the course of
these twelve years, he had seen evinced under similar circumstances by
persons who had consoled themselves before he had done pitying them.
"Still," he said gravely, "I think there was harshness."

"So do I, but not so much as I thought at that time, and--oh, surely
that is not Rachel Curtis? I told her I thought you would call."

"Intolerable!" he muttered between his teeth. "Is she always coming to
bore you?"

"She has been very kind, and my great enlivenment," said Ermine, "and
she can't be expected to know how little we want her. Oh, there, the
danger is averted! She must have asked if you were here."

"I was just thinking that she was the chief objection to Lady Temple's
kind wish of having you at Myrtlewood."

"Does Lady Temple know?" asked Ermine, blushing.

"I could not keep it from one who has been so uniformly kind to me; but
I desired her not to let it go further till I should hear your wishes."

"Yes, she has a right to know," said Ermine; "but please, not a word
elsewhere."

"And will you not come to stay with her?"

"I? Oh, no; I am fit for no place but this. You don't half know how
bad I am. When you have seen a little more of us, you will be quite
convinced."

"Well, at least, you give me leave to come here."

"Leave? When it is a greater pleasure than I ever thought to have again;
that is, while you understand that you said good-bye to the Ermine of
Beauchamp Parsonage twelve years ago, and that the thing here is only a
sort of ghost, most glad and grateful to be a friend--a sister."

"So," he said, "those are to be the terms of my admission."

"The only possible ones."

"I will consider them. I have not accepted them."

"You will," she said.

But she met a smile in return, implying that there might be a will as
steadfast as her own, although the question might be waived for a time.

Meantime, Rachel was as nearly hating Colonel Keith as principle would
allow, with "Human Reeds," newly finished, burning in her pocket,
"Military Society" fermenting in her brain, and "Curatocult" still
unacknowledged. Had he not had quite time for any rational visit? Was he
to devour Mackarel Lane as well as Myrtlewood? She was on her way to the
latter house, meeting Grace as she went, and congratulating herself that
he could not be in two place