"Can you not?" said Jean, her blue eyes flashing a little. "Can you not, sir? Can you not see that the bread of dependence is bitter to her and bitter to me? You took her from her own home, and her own quiet life--for some reason of your own--but I know it was ill done. If I am here, it is another weight upon the wrong side." "Do as you like, and leave me, in Heaven's name!" he exclaimed, impatiently. "Heaven had not much to do with her being taken away," said Jean, firmly, "but I do not wish to speak about what I know imperfectly after all. What I wish to speak about is just this--Do you really want me to stay, and is it all for her sake? or is there something else?" "The woman will drive me mad!" said Mr. Sandford. "What else could there be? No! I do wish you to stay; and with regard to Inchbrae," he said, in a lower voice, "had I known she cared so much----" "She did care," said Jean; "she greeted till I thought she would wear herself out; but she is getting over it a bit, and she knows that one day she will go back." "Ah!" said Mr. Sandford, "what is that about going back? The place is sold." "Yes, it is sold," said Jean composedly, "and can be bought back any time. Your sister knows the prophecy, and she'll go back to it in God's good time. Till then we are content--she and I." "Some old woman's story," muttered Mr. Sandford. "Now you will be good enough to go and leave me." "I will wish you good day, sir; it's not good-bye, till I know Mrs. Dorriman's wishes." Jean left the room, and Mr. Sandford took his hat and went out. Nothing Jean said held much meaning for him, but her manner impressed him; and he went off to look into some business matters, never for a moment thinking it curious that his changed feeling towards his sister had made him try to persuade her old servant to stay in his house. When he went home Mrs. Dorriman's face was more cheerful than he had yet seen it. "I should like to know how we are to get any dinner," he said, afraid of her thanks. "Oh! brother, there is Jean." "Well! what of that?" "She is a first-rate cook, and she has agreed to stay; and she is getting on with everything; and it is like a dream," said the poor woman, in a perfect flutter of gratitude, and relief, and happiness. Her brother looked at her wonderingly. "You are an odd little woman," he said, but not unkindly. "It does not take very much to upset you," but he was glad all the same. He had always felt uncomfortable about Jean since he had found out how much his sister was wrapped up in her; and he now felt rather grateful to her for coming in to his plan so readily. It was dark when Mr. Drayton arrived, and only Mrs. Dorriman was waiting to receive the two, who came in together.