My mother sighed, but said, with gentle firmness, 'I had no right to ask, my dear.' 'Then we are alone in the house, mother.' 'Yes, my dear, for a little while. Sit down, and I will tell you all about it.' I sat down, and my mother sat beside me, and took my hand in hers. 'It came upon me as suddenly as it has come upon you, my dear, and I am almost as sorry as you are. But life is full of such changes, my dear child.' 'Go on, mother.' In my rebellious mood her gentle words brought no comfort to me. 'When I said last night that I would come for you this evening, I had no idea that anything would have prevented me. I intended to bring Jessie, and I looked forward with pleasure to the walk we intended to take. I did not tell your uncle that Jessie would come with me; I thought I would wait till teatime. Lately I have considered it more than ever my duty to study him, because of the change that has taken place in him--you have noticed it yourself, my dear--since Jessie came so strangely among us. For it was strange, was it not, my dear?--almost as strange as her going away so suddenly, and as unexpected too; for I am certain your uncle did not expect her, and that he was as much surprised as we were. He is not to blame, therefore, for what has occurred now. It is not for us, dear child, to find fault with him because he is silent and reserved with us; the only feeling we ought to have towards him is one of deep gratitude for his great kindness to us. You don't forget our sad condition, my darling, on the morning we received your uncle's letter.' 'No, mother, I don't forget,' I said, somewhat softened towards uncle Bryan. 'He did not deceive us; he spoke plainly and honestly, and the brightest expectations we could have entertained from his offer, and the manner in which it was made, have been more than realised. Is it not so, dear child?' In common honesty I was compelled to admit that it was so.