of drawing-room warfare, and
Alison often wavered between the desire of preparing her, and the
doubt whether it were not cruel to inflict the present pain of want of
confidence. If that were a happy summer to some at Avonmouth, it was
a very trying one to those two anxious, yet apparently uninterested
sisters, who were but lookers-on at the game that affected their other
selves.

At length, however, came a new feature into the quiet summer life at
Avonmouth. Colin looked in on Ermine one morning to announce, with
shrugged shoulders, and a face almost making game of himself, that his
brother was coming! Lord Keith had been called to London on business,
and would extend his journey to come and see what his brother was doing.

"This comes of being the youngest of the family," observed Colin,
meditatively. "One is never supposed capable of taking care of one's
self. With Keith I shall be the gay extravagant young officer to the end
of my days."

"You are not forgiving to your brother," said Ermine.

"You have it in your power to make me so," he said eagerly.

"Then you would have nothing to forgive," she replied, smiling.

Lady Temple's first thought was a renewal of her ardent wish that Ermine
should be at Myrtlewood; and that Mackarel Lane, and the governesship
should be as much as possible kept out of sight. Even Alison was on her
side; not that she was ashamed of either, but she wished that Ermine
should see and judge with her own eyes of Colin's conduct, and also
eagerly hailed all that showed him still committed to her sister. She
was proportionably vexed that he did not think it expedient to harass
Ermine with further invitations.

"My brother knows the whole," he said, "and I do not wish to attempt to
conceal anything."

"I do not mean to conceal," faltered Fanny, "only I thought it might
save a shock--appearances--he might think better of it, if--"

"You thought only what was kind," answered the colonel, "and I thank
you for it most warmly; but this matter does not depend on my brother's
consent, and even if it did, Ermine's own true position is that which is
most honourable to her."

Having said this, he was forced to console Fanny in her shame at her
own kind attempt at this gentle little feminine subterfuge. He gratified
her, however, by not interfering with her hospitable instincts of
doing honour to and entertaining his brother, for whose sake her first
approach to a dinner party was given; a very