“Yes, my dear lady,” Colonel Lenny resumed, taking his old place beside Lady Markham; “we have been making the most of our time; for it is very likely we may have letters to-morrow, my wife and I, summoning us away. I don’t like it, and neither will she, and perhaps we may have another day, but I scarcely think it likely. I don’t know how we’re to drag ourselves away. You have been kinder than any one ever was; and the children have got a hold of my old heart, bless them!” The colonel had genuine tears in his eyes. “Lenny will tell you what I propose,” said Sir William on the other side. “It is not an easy position. I have always thought myself quite safe--quite free of responsibility; and now to be pulled up all at once; and when I think of my own boys----” “Your own boys?” said Mrs. Lenny, raising herself very erect in her chair. “Oh, I feel for you--I feel for you, Will! but if you put the least bit of a slur on my sister or her child---- “Don’t make it worse,” he said, throwing up his hands. “_I_ throw a slur! You know I never thought of anything so impossible--it _is_ impossible; but how could I think of him as mine? Adoption has its rights--but Lenny will tell you what I propose.” A short time after there were affectionate good-nights between the ladies. Lady Markham accompanied Mrs. Lenny to her room to see that she had everything she could desire. “I am so sorry you must go to-morrow,” she said, half out of politeness, but with a little mixture of truth, for there was something in the genial warmth of the strange couple which touched her heart. “My dear, it’s just possible we may have another day,” said the old campaigner. The mother and daughter had a harmless little laugh together over Mrs. Lenny’s “evening body,” but they agreed that “papa’s old friends” were real friends, and adopted them with cordiality though amusement. “She asked me a great deal about the family and about Paul,” Alice said as they separated. “No letter again to-day,” said Lady Markham, with a sigh. That name subdued their smiles. To think he should be the best beloved, yet so careless of their happiness! “He is so forgetful,” they both said. And with this so common family sigh, not any present or pressing trouble, only a fear, an anticipation, a doubt what to-morrow might bring forth, the doors of the peaceful chambers closed, and night and quiet settled down on the silent house.