“Mrs. Eyre has just come in.  She desires me to say that they are taking every care of me, and are all happy to have me with them:  she says I am to tell you that her own daughters are about my age.  It is all true, dear aunt, and they are exceedingly kind to me.  They seem to have plenty of money, are intimate with the governor’s family, and with what they call the good society of the colony.  When I think what my position would have been now had I not met with them, I grow quite frightened.

“I have to write to papa, and must close this.  I have requested Captain Cannonby to write to you himself, and give you particulars about the last moments of Frederick.  Send me the money without delay, dear aunt.  The place is hateful to me now he is gone, and I’d rather be dead than stop in it.

    “Your affectionate and afflicted niece,

    “SIBYLLA MASSINGBIRD.”

Lionel folded the letter musingly.  “It would almost appear that they had not heard of your son’s accession to Verner’s Pride,” he remarked to Mrs. Verner.  “It is not alluded to in any way.”

“I think it is sure they had not heard of it,” she answered “I remarked so to Mary Tynn.  The letters must have been delayed in their passage.  Lionel, you will see to the sending out of the money for me.”

“Immediately,” replied Lionel.

“And when do you come home?”

“Do you mean—­do you mean when do I come here?” returned Lionel.

“To be sure I mean it.  It is your home.  Verner’s Pride is your home, Lionel, now; not mine.  It has been yours this three or four months past, only we did not know it.  You must come home to it at once, Lionel.”

“I suppose it will be right that I should do so,” he answered.

“And I shall be thankful,” said Mrs. Verner.  “There will be a master once more, and no need to bother me.  I have been bothered, Lionel.  Mr. Jan,”—­turning to the bureau—­“it’s that which has made me feel ill.  One comes to me with some worry or other, and another comes to me:  they will come to me.  The complaints and tales of that Roy fidget my life out.”

“I shall discharge Roy at once, Mrs. Verner.”

Mrs. Verner made a deprecatory movement of the hands, as much as to say that it was no business of hers.  “Lionel, I have only one request to make of you:  never speak of the estate to me again, or of anything connected with its management.  You are its sole master, and can do as you please.  Shall you turn me out?”

Lionel’s face flushed.  “No, Mrs. Verner,” he almost passionately answered.  “You could not think so.”

“You have the right.  Had Fred come home, he would have had the right.  But I’d hardly reconcile myself to any other house how.”

“It is a right which I should never exercise,” said Lionel.

“I shall mostly keep my room,” resumed Mrs. Verner; “perhaps wholly keep it:  and Mary Tynn will wait upon me.  The servants will be yours, Lionel.  In fact, they are yours; not mine.  What a blessing! to know that I may be at peace from henceforth:  that the care will be upon another’s shoulders!  My poor Fred!  My dear sons!  I little thought I was taking leave of them both for the last time!”