said, sitting down and
opening the letter, "I think it just as well to drop apologies and
excuses. You and I have decided that matters ought to be set straight,
and so, here goes. Marcia has just written me a long letter in which she
says a good deal about you and Sylvia, and I am going to read you a part
of it which I think will straighten out some things which I may have
made crooked, in my efforts to do good to all parties concerned--a
dangerous business, I may say.

"'It is delightful to think,' thus Marcia writes,--'that Sylvia's life
is at last settled for her, and that, too, in the right way. Of course,
neither you nor I would be satisfied with a match like that; but Sylvia
is not only satisfied with Mr. Vanderley, but I have no doubt that she
will be perfectly happy with him. More than that, I believe she will
supply his shortcomings, and strengthen his weaknesses, and as he has a
naturally good disposition, and an ample fortune, I think Sylvia is to
be sincerely congratulated. When we first spoke of this matter a good
while ago I thought that if the Sylvia-Vanderley affair could ever be
arranged, it would be a good thing, and I have not changed my opinion.'
The rest of the letter," said Miss Laniston, folding it as she spoke,
"chiefly concerns the new college, and I do not suppose it would
interest you."

I agreed with her, and took my leave. The loose end had been gathered
up.

LII.

I FINISH THE SICILIAN LOVE-STORY.

It might have been supposed that my little experience in gathering up
loose ends would have deterred me from further efforts in this
direction, but it did not.

I had left Miss Laniston without asking some questions I had intended to
put to her. I wished very much to know--I thought it was my right to
know--something definite about the Mr. Brownson who had formerly been
connected, so to speak, with the Misses Raynor. I hated this subject as
I hated the vilest medicine, but I felt that I must get the matter
straightened in my mind, yet I could not say anything to Sylvia about
it. And after what Miss Laniston had read to me I could not ask her
anything, even if my mind had been sufficiently composed to formulate
questions. She was a very plain-spoken person. Too much so, perhaps.

Walkirk was very different; in fact, I think he erred on the other side.
I am sure that he would have liked to conceal from me anything that
would give me pain. In the course of his life he had met a gre