‘Isabel!  Is anything the matter?’

’You are behindhand.  Had you not heard of the arrival of number four?’

‘I never hear anything,’ said Clara, her eyes overflowing.

‘Ha! not since we last met?’ asked the Earl.

’They wrote once or twice; but you know they thought me wrong, and it has all died away since I went abroad.  The last letter I had was dated in November.’

‘You know nothing since that time!’

’No; I often thought of writing to Miss Faithfull, but I could not bear to show how it was, since they would not answer me.  So I made bold to come to you, for I cannot ask before my uncle.  He is quite passionate at the very name.’

‘He is kind to you?’ asked Lord Ormersfield, hastily.

’Most kind, except for that, the only thing I care about.  But you have a letter!  Oh!  I am famishing to hear of them!’

She did not even know of the loss of the school; and her distress was extreme as she heard of their straits.  ‘It must be killing Isabel,’ she said; ‘if I could but be at home to work for her!’

‘Isabel has come out beyond all praise,’ said Louis.  ’I am afraid there is much for them to undergo; but I do believe they are much happier in the midst of it.’

‘Everybody must be happy in Dynevor Terrace,’ said Clara.

Louis shook his head and smiled, adding, ’But, Clara, I do believe, if it were to come over again, Jem would hardly act in the same way.’

‘Do you think he has forgiven me?’

‘Judge for yourself.’

Her hand trembling, she caught at the well-known handwriting that to her seemed as if it could hardly be the property of any one else; and it was well for her that Louis had partly prepared her for the tone of depression, and the heavy trials it revealed, when she had been figuring to herself the writer enjoying all the felicity from which she was banished.

’No. 5, Dynevor Terrace, Sept. 14th, 1851.

’Dear Fitzjocelyn,—­I ought to have written yesterday; but I took the whole duty at Ormersfield on Sunday, and was too lazy the next day to do more than keep the children out of the way, and look after Isabel; for, though I am told not to be uneasy, she does not regain strength as she has done before.  Over-exertion, or bad nursing, one or both, tell upon her; and I wish we may not have too dear a bargain in the nurse whom she chose for cheapness’ sake.  My lectures were to have paid the expenses, but the author’s need is not always the first consideration; the money will not be forthcoming till Christmas, and meantime we cannot launch out.  However, Ormersfield partridges are excellent fare for Isabel, and I could return thanks for the abundant supply that would almost seem disproportionate; but you can guess the value as substantial comforts.  A box of uneatable grouse from Beauchastel, carriage twelve shillings, was a cruel subject of gratitude; but those good people