"And we had to walk home from the turn to Ballyclough," said Emmeline. "But, oh mamma, what's the matter?" They all now looked up at Lady Fitzgerald, and it was evident enough that something was the matter; something to be thought of infinitely more than that accident on the road. "Oh, Mary, Mary, what is it?" said Aunt Letty, coming forward and taking hold of her sister-in-law's hand. "Is my brother ill?" "Sir Thomas is not very well, and I've been waiting for you so long. Where's Herbert? I must speak to Herbert." And then the mother and son left the hall together. There was then a silence among the four ladies that were left there standing. At first they followed each other into the drawing-room, all wrapped up as they were and sat on chairs apart, saying nothing to each other. At last Aunt Letty got up. "You had better go up-stairs with Lady Clara," said she; "I will go to your mamma." "Oh, Aunt Letty, do send us word; pray send us word," said Emmeline. Mary now began to cry. "I know he's very ill. I'm sure he's very ill. Oh, what shall we do?" "You had better go up stairs with Lady Clara," said Aunt Letty. "I will send you up word immediately." "Oh, don't mind me; pray don't mind me," said Clara. "Pray, pray, don't take notice of me;" and she rushed forward, and throwing herself on her knees before Emmeline, began to kiss her. They remained here, heedless of Aunt Letty's advice, for some ten minutes, and then Herbert came to them. The two girls flew at him with questions; while Lady Clara stood by the window, anxious to learn, but unwilling to thrust herself into their family matters. "My father has been much troubled to-day, and is not well," said Herbert. "But I do not think there is anything to frighten us. Come; let us go to dinner." The going to dinner was but a sorry farce with any of them; but nevertheless, they went through the ceremony, each for the sake of the others. "Mayn't we see him?" said the girls to their mother, who did come down into the drawing-room for one moment to speak to Clara. "Not to-night, loves. He should not be disturbed." And so that day came to an end; not satisfactorily. CHAPTER IX. FAMILY COUNCILS. When the girls and Aunt Letty went to their chambers that night, Herbert returned to his mother's own dressing-room, and there, seated over the fire with her, discussed the matter of his father's sudden attack. He had been again with his father, and Sir Thomas had seemed glad to have him there; but now he had left him for the night. "He will sleep now, mother," said the son; "he has taken laudanum." "I fear he takes that too often now." "It was good for him to have it to-night. He did not get too much, for I dropped it for him." And then they sat silent for a few moments together. "Mother," said Herbert, "who can this man have been?" "I have no knowledge--no idea--no guess even," said Lady Fitzgerald. "It is that man's visit that has upset him."