It was no wonder, the children said, that their mother was worse than usual. Every one felt dull, and languid, and out of sorts. They would all feel better when the rain which had been gathering so many days should come, and it could not be long now. This was what Frederica said to her sister, Mrs Brandon, when she came to see them after her return from the seaside, where she had passed the summer. Mrs Brandon assented, and regretted for baby's sake that she had returned home so soon. She regretted it for another reason. She did not know how to tell the business that had brought her to them that day. Their father had decided not to return home till spring, and had written to her to say that there would be an opportunity for Fred to travel with a Mrs Bury, who was about to return to England, and he wished her to hasten her preparations. Mrs Brandon was to tell Mrs Vane of the change of plan, and to help Fred in all necessary arrangements. She did not like the task he had assigned her, and she liked it less when she saw the mother and her daughters together. She could not but feel that her father was exposing himself to remark--nay, to just censure--by remaining away so long in the circumstances of his family; and she felt the greatest unwillingness to say a word to Fred about leaving home. But Fred did not even take the matter into consideration. She dismissed the subject with a single word. "I'm not going," said she quietly. But an angry spot burned on her cheek. She would not say to Mrs Brandon, or even to Selina, that she thought it unkind of their father to ask such a thing--more than unkind to remain longer away. She checked the hasty words of blame that rose to. Tessie's lips in Caroline's presence. But she was grieved and vexed too. "I am not going," said she, "and nobody must tell mama that papa, wished it. He ought to know that--" She stopped suddenly, not sure of her voice. "She has been ill so long," said Mrs Brandon. "I suppose papa thinks she is as she always has been, now a little better, now worse. He thinks you are over-anxious, and I am afraid he does not understand. What does Dr Gerard say?" "If you were to tell him, Caroline, he might understand," said Selina. "Will you not write and tell him how we all want him home?" "I will write certainly, and I will also see Mrs Bury. It would make you too unhappy to leave now, though I trust your mother is not really worse." "Thank you. No, I could not go now. Even Mr St. Cyr is ill, and they have no one but me--" said Fred, speaking with difficulty. "My darling," said Mrs Brandon, moved to unwonted tenderness by the sight of Frederica's tears, "you are not to be discouraged. Remember how often your mother has been worse than she is now; and papa will be sure to come when I write and tell him how much you all want him. And, dear, if you break down, what will become of the rest?"