"I will see Miss Vane safely home, I have something to say to her," said a voice from the darkness. Frederica with great difficulty suppressed a cry as Mr Jerome stepped forward. "Is it you, my brother? Ah, well, she need not be in haste, though it is growing dark. You will see her safely home." But Frederica bent hastily over Mr St. Cyr's hand. "Good night, Cousin Cyprien. I do not fear the dark," said she; "but I do fear Mr Jerome," added she, in an undertone, as she sprang out of the room and down the stairs. She sped along the street like one pursued by an enemy. But Mr Jerome did not follow her across the threshold. He lingered a moment, looking out after her, and then went up through the darkness to his brother's room. "And so Theresa St. Hubert is gone!" said Mr St. Cyr, as he entered the room, which was no longer dark. "Yes," said his brother; "she is gone, and so is her husband." "Dead! His daughter does not know." "No. Why tell her sooner than needful? He, at least, is no loss to his children." "And yet they loved him, and they ought to know." "They will be told when the right time comes." "There will be much to do. There are many documents relating to their affairs that must be looked over and arranged, and I have still so little strength." "My strength is yours in their cause;" said Mr Jerome. "Brother," said Mr St. Cyr, "why did you not tell me of poor Theresa's death?" "Did I not tell you? Did not Sister Agnace? You were too ill at that time to be told, I suppose. Or you have forgotten. Your memory fails you at times, I fear, my brother." "It may be," said Mr St. Cyr, after a moment's thought. "And yet I think I should not have forgotten this." "There is no time to be lost in the settlement of their affairs, you must see," said Jerome. "No, certainly." "There must be guardians appointed." "They are appointed." "In your illness, having to act for them, I examined such papers relating to their affairs as I had access to. I found none having reference to what was to follow the death of their mother. None entire, I mean. Was there not to be some change? some new choice? I found some torn morsels of paper, a cancelled instrument of some sort. It is quite as well. The court will be happier in the selection of guardians than that unhappy woman was." "There are guardians appointed!" repeated Mr St. Cyr. "You have forgotten. Your illness has impaired your memory. There was to be a change of names. The former appointment was set aside. You yourself must have had some knowledge of it. You have forgotten." Mr St. Cyr looked at his brother with a strange emotion visible in his face. "My brother, you are not glad of my weakness, are you? Have patience with me. I _am_ weak." "That is easily seen. Yes, I will be gentle with you, but I must be faithful too: your weakness shall be helped and shielded by my strength."