be our go-between. Go in and tell grandmother what
you have recommended to me, and that I said in answer, 'it is well.'"

I was cunning. I was dissembling. I thought in that moment, that, if
Fanny should burst in childish glee into the neighboring room, and in
triumphant voice proclaim the concession she had wrung out of me, I
might tell her on her return the name of some place that did not exist,
and so throw the responsibility off my own shoulders.

But she did not do that.

She went back quietly, and waited long, until her friends had retired by
the opposite door: then she came and whispered:--

"I have been long: but I did not wish to speak before my mother. Now
your parents are alone: go and speak."

"Something more first. Go back, Fanny, and say that I can tell them the
truth, only on the condition that mother and grandmother promise not to
seek him out, until I show them a letter from Lorand, in which he
invites them to come to him: nor to send others in search of him: and,
if they wish to send a letter to him, they must first give it to me,
that I may send it off to him, and they never show, even by a look, to
anyone that they know aught of Lorand's whereabouts."

Fanny nodded assent, and returned into the neighboring room.

A few minutes later she came out again, and held open the door before
me.

"Come in."

I went in. She shut the door after me, and then, taking my hand, led me
to mother's bedside.

Poor dear mother was now quiet, and pale as death. She seemed to beckon
me to her with her eyes. I went to her side, and kissed her hand.

Fanny bent over me, and held her face near my lips, that I might whisper
in her ear what I knew.

I told her all in a few words. She then bent over mother's pillow and
whispered in her ear what she had heard from me.

Mother sighed and seemed to be calmed. Then grandmother bent over dear
mother, that she might learn from her all that had been said.

As she heard it, her grey-headed figure straightened, and clasping her
two hands above her head, she panted in wild prophetic ecstasy:

"O Lord God! who entrustest Thy will to children: may it come to pass,
as Thou hast ordained!"

Then she came to me and embraced me.

"Did you counsel Lorand to go there?"

"I did."

"Did you know what you were doing? It was the will of God. Every day you
must pray now for your brother."

"And you must keep silent for him. For when he is discovered, my brother
will die and