"Every body says he did," continued Blanche, "and I do not wonder that you refused him. I hate younger sons. Mamma wished me to marry him at one time, but I declined. I almost wish now that I had kept him on, just to pique somebody else. Do you like military men?" "No," said Margaret. "Well, I wonder at that," said Blanche. "I think I could make you change your mind. Did you happen to notice me walking with a young man, in the garden, yesterday before dinner?" "No, I was up stairs," said Margaret, faintly. "Well--if you can manage to walk out to-morrow--do you think you could?" "No, I am sure I could not." "That is a pity, because I often meet him on the S---- road. You would be so much amused with him. He has such spirits, and I should not be jealous, no--Watkins is all my own." At another time Margaret would have laughed at this declaration; now, she sighed heavily and sank back in her chair. "You are quite fatigued with that wretch Mr. Haveloc; it was just like my uncle to admit him. However, thank goodness he is going to Russia directly, and will not bore you again. But here comes my uncle; not a word about Watkins, I entreat. We keep it a secret from him, but I will take care that you are in the way the next time he comes to the house." "I will go up stairs and lie down, if you please," said Margaret, trying to rise. "I am not very well." Blanche helped Margaret up stairs, and she had another attack of illness, which again confined her to her bed for some days. CHAPTER XVIII. How slowly do the hours their numbers spend, How slowly does sad Time his feathers move! SPENSER. Mathilden's Hertz hat niemand noch ergründet-- Doch, grosse Seelen dulden still. DON KARLOS. Mrs. Somerton had kindly offered, as soon as ever she learned the particulars of Margaret's situation, to take the charge of her, and treat her like one of her own daughters. But Mr. Warde did not seize the proposition with the eagerness that it might seem to merit. Perhaps, he thought, that if Margaret was no better treated than Mrs. Somerton's daughters, her life would not be all sunshine; perhaps he feared that the lady would not scrupulously redeem her pledge; at any rate, he informed his sister decidedly, that it was his intention to place Margaret with some lady who had no children; for he thought it would be difficult, if not impossible, for any other to adjust satisfactorily, the claims of her daughters and her guest. Mrs. Somerton tried to argue the point, but Mr. Warde was firm, and wrote to one or two friends describing the sort of home he desired for Margaret.