“There cannot be a better nurse than Alick Keith; and Ferguson, the agent, is there, getting directions from Keith whenever he can bear it.  I am best out of the way of all that.  I have said once for all that I will do anything for them except live at Gowanbrae, and I am sick of demonstrating that the poor child’s existence is the greatest possible relief to me; and I hope now not to go back till the whole is settled and done with.”

“You look regularly worn out with the discussions!”

“It was an endless business!  The only refreshment was in now and then getting over to Bishopsworthy.”

“What? to Rachel?” said Ermine archly.

“Rachel is showing to great advantage.  I did not think it was in her to be so devoted to the child, and it is beautiful to see her and Mr. Clare together.”

“There’s a triumph,” said Ermine, smiling.  “Do you grant that the happy medium is reached, that Alick should learn to open his eyes and Rachel to shut hers?”

“Well!  Her eyes are better, but he, poor lad, has been in no spirits to open his very wide.  The loss of his sister went very deep, and those aguish attacks, though they become much slighter, make him look wretchedly ill.  I should have doubted about leaving him in charge in his present state, but that he was urgent on me, and he is spared all the night nursing.  Any way, I must not leave him longer than I can help.  I may have one week with you at home—­at our home, Ermine.”

“And let us make the most of that,” said Ermine, quickly.

Meanwhile Alison, sore and sick at heart, wandered on the esplanade, foreboding that the blow was coming that she ought to rejoice at, if her love could only be more unselfish.  At last the Colonel joined her, and, as usual, his tone of consideration cheered and supported her when in actual conference with him, and as he explained his plans, he added that he hoped there would be scarcely any interruption to her intercourse with her sister.

“You know,” she said abruptly, “that we could go to Ekaterinburg.”

“And what is your feeling about it?  Remember, Ailie, that I am your brother too.”  And as she hesitated, “your feelings—­no doubt you are in many minds!”

“Ah, yes; I never settled anything without Ermine, and she will not help me now.  And she has been so worn with the excitement and anxiety of all this long detention of yours, that I don’t dare to say a word that could prey on her.”

“In fact, you would chiefly be decided by Edward’s own wishes.”

“If I were sure of them,” sighed poor Alison; “but he lives on experiments, and can hardly detach himself from them even to attend to Ermine herself.  I don’t know whether we should be a comfort or a burthen, and he would be afraid to hurt our feelings by telling the truth.  I have been longing to consult you who have seen him at that place in Russia.”

“And indeed, Ailie, he is so wedded to smoke and calculations, and so averse to this sublunary world, that though your being with him might be beneficial, still I greatly question whether the risk of carrying poor little Rose to so remote a place in such a climate, would be desirable.  If he were pining to have a home made for him, it would be worth doing; as it is, the sacrifice would be disproportioned.”