and know the worst; he would take the whole party to a hotel, if it were too great a liberty to quarter themselves upon Mrs. Annesley.

Winifred was as much surprised as if the chess-king had moved two squares at once; but she warmly ecouraged his resolution, and assured him of a welcome st what the cousin-hood were wont to call the Family Office, the central home to all Ferrarses and their belongings, undertaking the charge of Gilbert and Lucy in his absence. The sorrowful and almost supplicating tone of his wife's letter, would have sufficed to bring him to her, even without his disquietude for his child, whichever of them it might be; and though Albinia's merry blue-eyed boy had brought a renewed spring of hope and life, his crushed spirits trembled at the least alarm, and he was the more panic-struck because the child was so very dear to him.

Thus, though the cheerful Winifred had convinced his reason, his gloomy anticipations revived before he reached London on the following day; and with the stern composure of one accustomed to bend to the heaviest blows, he knocked at Mrs. Annesley's door, and asked for Mrs. Kendal. He was told that she was out; but on further inquiry, he learnt that Miss Kendal was in the drawing room, where he found her curled up in the corner of the sofa, reading so intently, that she did not look up till he said 'Sophia.'

She sprang to her feet with a cry of surprise, but did not approach, though he held out his arms, saying in a voice husky with anxiety, 'Is the baby well, Sophia?

"Yes,' she cried, 'quite well; he is out in the carriage with them.' Then shrinking away as he was stooping to kiss her, she continued, reddening deeply, 'Papa, I did very wrong; I was sly and disobedient, and I might

have killed him.'

'Do not let us speak of that now, my dear; I want to hear of and again he would have drawn her into his

ce, but she held out her hand, with her repelling

re, and burst forth in her

en only because I am ill.

rude honesty, 'I can't be Hear all about it, Papa,

hen say you forgive me, if you can.

I always was

to mamma, because I was determined I would be; did not think she had any business with us. The she was kind, the more I did not like it; and I ht it was mean in Gilbert and Lucy to be fond of No! I have not done yet! I grew naughtier and htier, till at last I have been false and sly, and—have this to baby-and I would not have cared then -if she would not have been-oh! so good!'

phy made no farther resistance to the arm that was vn round her, as her father said, 'So good, that she overcome evil with good. My child, how should I forgive when you are sensible of your mistake, and she has so freely forgiven?'

ophy did not speak, but she pressed his arm closer d her, and laid her cheek gratefully on his shoulder. only wished it could last for ever; but he soon lifted from his breast, that he might look anxiously at her while he said, 'And what is all this, my dear? I am id you are not well.'

[er energies were recalled; and, squeezing his hand, said, 'Mind, you will not let them say it was mamma's

t.'

Who is accusing her, my dear? What is the matter?' It is only my back,' said Sophy; 'there always was upid pain there; but grandmamma's Betty said I made Iss, and that it was all laziness, and I would not let yone say that again, so I never told of it; and it went till the other night I grew faint at church, and Mrs. Sautoy put mamma in such a fright, that we all came re yesterday; and there came a doctor this morning, o says my spine is not straight, and that I must lie on back for a long time; but never mind, Papa, it will

be very comfortable to lie still and read, and I shall not be cross now,' she added, reassuringly, as his grasp pressed her close, with a start of dismay.

'My dear, I am afraid you hardly know what you may have to go through; but I am glad you meet it bravely."' 'But you won't let them say mamma did it?

'Who should say so?'

'Aunt Maria will, and she will go and say so herself." cried Sophy; she will say it was taking walks and carrying baby, and it's not true. I told the doctor how my back ached long before baby came or she either; and he said that most likely the weakness had been left by the fever. So if it is anyone's mismanagement, it is Aunt Maria's; and if you won't tell her so, I will.'

'Gently, Sophy; that would hardly be grateful, after the pains that she has taken with you, and the care she meant to give.'

'Her care was all worry,' said Sophy; 'and it will be very lucky if I don't tell her so, if she says her provoking things to mamma. But you won't believe that

Papa.

'Most certainly not. Her care has been most tender, most indefatigable.'

'Yes, you must tell her to be happy again,' continued Sophy; 'I cannot bear to see her looking sorrowful! Last night, before she came to bed, when she fancied me asleep. she knelt and cried-oh! till it made me miserable! And to-day I heard Miss Ferrars say to Mrs. Annesley, that her fine spirits were quite gone. You know it is very silly; for I am the last person in all the world she ought to cry for.'

'She has an infinite treasure of love,' said Mr. Kendal; 'and we have done very little that we should be blessed with it; but, my dear, I cannot tell you how rejoiced I am that you have learnt to perceive what you have in her.'

ere, they are come home!' exclaimed Sophy, startas sounds were heard on the stairs, and almost at me moment, Albinia was in the room, contrition, ss, anxiety, all filling her mind as she beheld her ad; but something of sweetness in the first hasty ng, made the trustful sensation overcome all the and, understanding his uppermost wish, she stepped to the stair-case, and in another second had put ice into his arms, blooming and contented, and a broad smile for his papa. Mr. Kendal held him y through all the hospitable welcomes of the aunts, is own explanations and apologies; but to Albinia s all confusion, and almost annoyance, till, after ten tes, which seemed to her twenty, the considerate left her to take him up-stairs, and tell her own story. am afraid you have been very much alarmed,' were rst words when they were alone.

am afraid I have done everything wrong from being to end,' said Albinia. 'Oh, Edmund, I am so you are come! Now you will see the doctor, and v whether it was as bad as all the rest to bring her ondon.'

My dearest, you must calm yourself, and try to exa. You know I understand nothing yet, except from

resolute little advocate down-stairs, and your own , which I could scarcely make out, except that you e in great trouble.'

Ah, that note; I wrote it in one of my impetuous fits. urice used to say I ran frantic, and grew irrational; so I did not know what I was saying to you; and I ught that poor patient girl up here in all the heat, and journey hurt her so much, that I don't know how we ll ever get her home again. Oh, Edmund, I am the rst wife and mother in the world; and I undertook it with such foolish confidence.'

Mr. Kendal liked her impetuous fits as little as her

brother did, and he was not so much used to them; but he dealt with her in his quiet, straightforward way. 'You are exaggerating now, Albinia, and I do not wonder at it, for you have had a great deal to startle and to try you. Walking up and down is only heating and agitating you more; sit down here, and let me hear what gave you this alarm about Sophia.'

The grave affection of his manner restrained her, and his presence removed the uneasy flutter of spirits at her own independent line of action. She did as he desired; and he made her remove her bonnet, and refresh her face with cold water, before he heard her history, which she was able to give more reasonably, though still devoting herself with a sort of wilfulness to bear all the blame, until he said, 'This is foolish, Albinia; it is of no use to look at anything but the simple truth. This affection of the spine is probably constitutional; and if neglect have aggravated the evil, it must date from a much earlier period than since she has been under your charge. If any one be to blame it is myself, for the apathy that prevented me from placing the poor things under proper care; but I was hardly then aware that Maria is usually solicitous in the wrong place.'

'But everybody declares that it was always visible, and that no one could look at Sophy without seeing that she was crooked.'

'Après le coup,' said Mr. Kendal, with his grave smile, 'I grant you that a person of more experience might perhaps have detected what was amiss sooner than you did; but you have only to regret the ignorance you shared with us all; and you did your utmost according to your judgment for her good.'

And a cruel utmost it was,' said Albinia; it is frightful to think what I inflicted on her, and all endured in silence, because I had not treated her so that she could bear to speak to me.'