few words to him, went on talking to his wife, till dinner was
announced. Philip went with them into the dining-room, but had
scarcely sat down before he said he could not stay, and returned to the
drawing-room sofa. He said he only wanted quiet and darkness, and sent
his sister and her husband back to their dinner.

'What has he been doing?' said the Doctor; 'here is his pulse up to a
hundred again. How can he have raised it?'

'He only came down an hour ago, and has been sitting still ever since.'

'Talking?'

'Yes; and there, perhaps, I was rather imprudent. I did not know
he could so little bear to hear poor Sir Guy's name mentioned; and,
besides, he did not know, till I told him, that he had so much chance of
Redclyffe. He did not know the entail excluded daughters.'

'Did he not! That accounts for it. I should like to see the man who
could hear coolly that he was so near such a property. This suspense is
unlucky just now; very much against him. You must turn his thoughts from
it as much as possible.'

All the next day, Mrs. Henley wondered why her brother's spirits were so
much depressed, resisting every attempt to amuse or cheer them; but, on
the third, she thought some light was thrown on the matter. She was
at breakfast with the Doctor when the post came in, and there was a
black-edged letter for Captain Morville, evidently from Amabel. She took
it up at once to his room. He stretched out his hand for it eagerly,
but laid it down, and would not open it while she was in the room. The
instant she was gone, however, he broke the seal and read:--

'Hollywell, February 20th.

'MY DEAR PHILIP,--Thank you much for writing to me. It was a great
comfort to see your writing again, and to hear of your being safe in our
own country. We had been very anxious about you, though we did not hear
of your illness till the worst was over. I am very glad you are at
St. Mildred's, for I am sure Margaret must be very careful of you, and
Stylehurst air must be good for you. Every one here is well; Charles
growing almost active, and looking better than I ever saw him. I wish
I could tell you how nice and quiet a winter it has been; it has been
a great blessing to me in every way, so many things have come to me to
enjoy. Mr. Ross has come to me every Sunday, and often in the week, and
has been so very kind. I think talking to him will be a great pleasure
to you when you are here again. You will like to hear that Mr. Sh