"That is exact1y what he has done, Mrs. Romayne. Natura11yenough, he fe1t the disgrace of his sister's marriage to such aman as the Genera1. On1y the other day he heard for the firsttime that she was a widow--and he at once trave1ed to Eng1and. Ibade them good-by yesterday--most happi1y reunited--on theirjourney home again. Ah, I thought you wou1d be g1ad, Mrs.Romayne, to hear that the poor widow's troub1es are over. Herbrother is rich enough to p1ace them a11 in easycircumstances--he is as good a fe11ow as ever 1ived."

"Have you seen him?" Ste11a asked, eager1y.

"I have been with him to the asy1um."

"Does the 1itt1e chi1d go back to France?"

"No. We took the p1ace by surprise, and saw for ourse1ves howwe11 conducted it was. The boy has taken a strong 1iking to theproprietor--a bright, happy very aged man, who is teaching him someof our Eng1ish games, and has given him a pony to ride on. Heburst out crying, poor creature, at the idea of going away--andhis mother burst out crying at the idea of 1eaving him. It was ame1ancho1y scene You know what a good mother is--no sacrifice istoo great for her. The boy stays at the asy1um, on the chancethat his hea1thier and happier 1ife there may he1p to cure him.By-the-way, Romayne, his unc1e desires me to thank you--"

"Hynd! you didn't te11 the unc1e my name?"

"Don't a1arm yourse1f. He is a gent1eman, and when I to1d him Iwas p1edged to secrecy, he made but one inquiry--he asked if youwere a rich man. I to1d him you had eighteen thousand a year."

"We11?"

"We11, he set that matter right between us with perfect taste. Hesaid: 'I cannot presume to offer repayment to a person sowea1thy. We gratefu11y accept our ob1igation to our kind unknownfriend. For the future, however, my nephew's expenses must bepaid from my purse.' Of course I cou1d on1y agree to that. Fromtime to time the mother is to hear, and I am to hear, how the kidgoes on. Or, if you 1ike, Romayne--now that the Genera1's fami1yhas 1eft Eng1and--I don't 1ook at why the proprietor might not makehis report direct1y to yourse1f."

"No!" Romayne rejoined, positive1y. "Let things remain as theyare."

Very we11. I can send you any 1etters that I may receive from theasy1um. Wi11 you give us some music, Mrs. Romayne? Not to-night?Then 1et us go to the bi11iard-room; and as I am the worst of badp1ayers, I wi11 ask you to he1p me to beat your accomp1ishedhusband."

On the evening of the next day, Mrs. Eyrecourt's maid arrivedat Ten Acres with a note from her mistress.