“Annie,” said he, stretching forward to take her hand and draw her toward him, “I didn’t mean what I said just now. I was only in fun--at least I didn’t think what I was saying. I--I wanted to see if you would believe me. I know you don’t want me to die; and look here--if you will promise not to go away yet I won’t sit up with George, and I will drink only just what you let me, and I’ll do just what you tell me--till I get well.” Annie shook her head. “I will--I swear it! Now you will stay, won’t you? Here--give me your other hand. There! I swear to do just what you tell me--till I get well. Now promise not to go to London. No--you swear, too,” said he, eagerly. “I promise----” “No, swear.” “I swear not to go to London till you are quite well, if you don’t do anything rash. There--I hear the dog-cart. Harry, I must go to the door to meet him.” “Meet who?” “George, of course.” “Confound George!” But Annie was already out of the room. She was flushed with the excitement of the successful battle she had just had with her husband, and with the other excitement of meeting her eldest brother-in-law, and George showed nothing but pleasure at sight of her. They came into the drawing-room talking brightly, and the baronet scarcely exchanged more than a couple of sentences and a hand-shake with his surly brother, so pleased was he to find a pleasant woman again in his house. When Wilfred arrived, just before dinner, he in his turn engrossed her completely; and at dinner these two new-comers took up so much of her attention that the convalescent Harry, who was at dinner with the rest for the first time since his illness, began to look very black, and to find fault with everything which was put before him. “I can’t eat that. How am I to hack at it with only one hand?” he growled, when the servant offered him some mutton. “Shall I cut it up for you, sir?” “No, I won’t have it; I don’t want anything at all!” said he, looking with a frown at his wife, who turned from George to tell the servant to bring the plate to her, and dutifully cut up the mutton, which her sulky husband, without thanks, then condescended to eat. Annie had put on a very pretty pale gray silk gown with elbow-sleeves and square-cut bodice edged with dainty lace, and a long spray of pink azalea fastened carelessly on one side of the neck. She was delighted at the pleasure they all--except her morose husband, who tried hard not to laugh when his brothers did at any speech of hers that amused them--evidently took in her society; and she smiled and laughed and chattered and looked so charming that not one of the men could keep his eyes off her for more than a few moments at a time. “Have you seen anything of the Mainwarings, Annie?” asked George, when dinner was nearly over.