t to have a little talk with you. You are
better now, are you not? I want to tell you what I have decided to do
for my child's welfare. I am going to send her away!'

"I sprung up with an exclamation of dismay, but he put me back firmly
and quietly on the couch as though I were a child, and went on with
his speech.

"'Crystal,' he said, rather sternly, 'I claim obedience as your
guardian; I claim it legally and morally.' Never had he spoken so
severely before. 'I am doing what costs me a great sacrifice. I am
going to send you away from us for a little while for your own good;
for your own peace and happiness. Alas! I see plainly now, how we have
failed to secure either.' I tried to speak, but I could not. I crushed
my hands together as though they were in a vise, as I listened.

"'Heaven knows,' he continued, sadly, 'how I have tried to do my duty
to you, and how Margaret has tried too; how we have loved you, prayed
and cared for you, never thinking of ourselves, but only of you. What
have we done that you should hide your unhappiness from us? Why did
you not come to me and tell me frankly, and like a brave girl, that
the sacrifice I asked was too great for you to yield; that your youth
and temperament demanded a different life to mine; that the quiet and
monotony were killing you; would anything have been too hard for your
brother's love?'

"I shivered at the word. Oh, Raby, why--why did you utter it? who
never were, who never could be a brother of mine. He had never used
that word before; it bore a terrible meaning to me now.

"'I have spoken to Doctor Connor,' he went on, more quickly, 'and his
opinion coincides with mine; and so I have arranged it all with Mrs.
Grey; surely a kinder and sweeter soul never breathed, not even our
own Margaret. You are to go abroad under her care for six months;
Doctor Connor advises it. Yes, it will be hard for us, but never fear,
my darling, the time will soon pass.

"'You shall go to Switzerland and Italy, and see your father's grave,
and your beautiful Florence again. You shall see fresh sights and
breathe fresh air until this weary lassitude has left you, and you
come back to us like our old Crystal.'

"'I will not go, Raby,' I exclaimed, exasperated beyond endurance at
the very idea. 'I will never go with Mrs. Grey;' but I might as well
have spoken to a rock.

"'I am your guardian, and I tell you that you will go, Crystal,' he
returned, severely, but his sternness was