d manage him when he was
delirious, you know--why, that was stuff and nonsense! They ought to
have got a strait-waistcoat and strapped him down to the bed; that would
surely have kept him as quiet as any Miss Cynthia West!"

The General said the name with infinite scorn.

"Is that what they said--that he was quiet when she was there?" Enid
inquired.

"So they said--so they said! I don't see the sense of it myself,"
replied the General, feeling that he had perhaps said a little too much.

"Then did he send for her?"

"No, my dear; he was unconscious when she came. I believe that his man
Jenkins was at the bottom of it all. He went and told her that poor
Hubert was ill."

"But I don't quite understand. If Hubert did not send for her, what
right had she to come?"

"You may well ask that. What right indeed! An abominable thing, I call
it, for Westwood's daughter to go and nurse one of our family! Don't
grieve about it, my darling! If Hubert was led astray by her wiles for a
little time, you may be sure that he will be ashamed of himself before
very long. He has a good heart, and will not let you go; he loves you
too sincerely for that, I am quite sure. So you must not fret."

"I don't; I shall not grieve--in that way, uncle," said Enid gravely,
but with perfect calm. "You mean that Hubert cares for her, and that she
loves him too?"

"I don't know what she does," said the General, with a rather ominous
growl. "I only know that there were some entanglement--understanding
between them--a flirtation I dare say--young men are not always so
careful as they ought to be--and perhaps the girl has taken it
seriously."

"Poor girl," said Enid softly--"I am very sorry for her!"

"Sorry? Sorry for Westwood's daughter? Enid, you forget what is due to
yourself and to your father! Do not speak of her! Forget her; and rest
assured that when Hubert is better he will dismiss her with thanks--if
thanks are necessary--and that we shall soon see him here at Beechfield
again. And, my dear, when he is better, I will put no further obstacle
in your way, if you still desire the--the engagement to go on."

"You forget, uncle Richard," said Enid very quietly, "that there was no
real engagement."

She had always maintained to herself before that there was one. He
looked at her with wonder.

"But, my dear, there was a sort of an understanding, you know; and
Flossy always said that you were so fond of each other."

"Flossy did not kno