There was a fortunate diversion made, however, by the entrance of May, with letters, and until their meal was ended, there was a cessation of hostilities, though Mrs. Ross still kept up a fugitive fire, hitting right and left, Lewis and Anne alternately. The breakfast over, Lewis rose to leave the room. "Oh!" exclaimed his mother. "I suppose you are going to the Tower." "Yes, mother," said Lewis, gravely, "I am going to the Tower; and when I return I shall have something to tell you, which, as it will be of great importance to me, I hope you will receive calmly, and in a more gentle spirit." He left the room. Mrs. Ross followed him with her eyes in astonishment, and then going to the window, watched him turn up Oranside. Anne sat in terror, lest she should be questioned as to the mystery of Lewis' words, but fortunately, she was not. Mrs. Ross sat down, and took her sewing. Anne had done so before, and the two ladies pursued their work in silence. The needle trembled in Anne's excited fingers; she felt the acceleration of her pulse, she heard the loud, quick throbbing of her heart. The silence became awful; she fancied Mrs. Ross could hear her fingers stumbling at every stitch. "Mother," she said, looking up at last. "I have a great favor to ask of you." Mrs. Ross glanced at her impatiently. "Well; what is it?" "You spoke to me once, of a letter--a letter," continued Anne, growing bolder, as she steadied her voice, "which my unhappy brother, Norman, wrote to my father; you said I might see it some time, mother!" "Upon my word, girl, I believe you want to drive me mad," exclaimed Mrs. Ross, angrily. "You see me half distracted, with the wilfulness and regardlessness of Lewis, and you bring in your own foolish fancies, and your brother's shameful story, as if I had not enough to vex me without that. Try to come down to ordinary life a little, and do not torment me with your chimeras." "This is no chimera," said Anne, "nor whim, nor fancy, nor anything of the kind; it is of the gravest importance that I should see that letter. It is not even curiosity, though I need hardly be blamed for feeling deep interest in the history of my brother. For the sake of my father's memory, and for the sake of Lewis, the two bonds between us, give me Norman's letter. I will ask nothing further of you; this I must beg and plead for, this you must give me." Mrs. Ross stared angrily in her face, resenting, and yet something impressed by the very strange tone of command, which, impelled by the vehemence of her feelings, mingled with Anne's entreaty. At last she rose, and walking quickly to her desk, opened it, and took from an inner drawer a small key, which she threw upon the table.