not such a frightful distance from London, for I suppose the Donisbro’ masters will have to do, unless I carry her off straight to town, which would be much the best thing to do!”

“Only of course you would not wish to leave Lord St. Quentin in his present state of health,” said Mr. Seaton rather pointedly, and Lady Frederica sighed and said she supposed not, but these lingering illnesses were very inconvenient.

Then the carriage drove on.

As soon as they reached the Castle, Sydney ran to the library, knocked, and went in. St. Quentin seemed immersed in a book. She[77] went and stood beside his couch, her hands behind her.

[77]

“Cousin St. Quentin,” she said, “we met Mr. Seaton, so I know now that my note did not go to him.”

“It went into the fire,” said St. Quentin, without raising his eyes from his book. “Your hand-writing isn’t precisely a credit to the aristocracy, you know. You’d better do some copies before you turn into a marchioness.”

But Sydney was not to be put off by his tone.

“I’m very sorry I was cross,” she said earnestly. “It was ever so good of you to write him a nice note instead!”

St. Quentin went on reading in silence for a minute, then looked up.

“If you are going to remain,” he said, “and pray do, if you feel inclined, shut the door and don’t talk nonsense!”

[78]

[78]

CHAPTER VII MISS MORRELL

MISS MORRELL

A companion-governess was procured for Sydney, the daughter of the vicar of one of the churches near Donisbro’. The girl was unfeignedly delighted at the prospect of a companion, even of the rather advanced age, as it seemed to her, of three-and-twenty.

She grew quite excited over the arranging of Miss Osric’s room, and would have liked to decorate it with some of the pretty things from her own. But this Lady Frederica would not allow.

“You can have anything you 

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