"Yes, as a formal visitor. Come, now, Mrs Barnett; if this were another establishment, and you a stranger and saw me here from time to time, would you ever imagine that dear Isabel and I were engaged?" "Well--er--no." "Of course you would not. There, I need not say any more; I am quite satisfied. Is she with her father now?" "No; I think she is down the garden." Sir Cheltnam smiled, bent forward, took and kissed the lady's hand. "Thank you," he said, with a meaning smile; and he rose from the lounge in the drawing room where the above conversation had taken place, and turned toward the French window which opened out upon the lawn. "No, no, really, Sir Cheltnam. I did not mean that." "My dear Mrs Barnett--" "Oh, very well; I suppose it's quite right. It was her father's wish." "And yours, I am sure," he said, nodding meaningly as he reached the window and passed out. "I hope I've done right," said Aunt Anne; "but Ralph is so strange, he may find fault. I'll go up and talk to him, and gradually introduce the subject." Her countenance brightened, as she thought of this way out of a difficulty, and rising and smoothing her stiff silk dress, whose rustling she liked to hear, she went out into the hall, and began slowly to ascend the stairs. "It is very trying to me," she said to herself. "Isabel does not seem to care for him a bit; and as to the two Lydon girls, really if any gentleman had behaved so cavalierly to me as Neil and Alison do to them, I certainly should not have put up with it." She paused for awhile rather breathlessly at the top of the stairs, and then went on to her brother's room and turned the handle, but the door was evidently bolted inside. For the moment she seemed surprised, but she went on toward the next door, that of the dressing room attached, but, as she reached it, this door was opened, and the nurse appeared, to step out into the corridor, and close the door behind her. "Did you try the other door, ma'am?" she said softly. "Yes; it is bolted. Never mind; I'll go through here." "Not now, ma'am," said the nurse quickly, and in a voice hardly above a whisper; but there was plenty of decision in her tones. "Not now?" said Aunt Anne haughtily. "My good woman, what do you mean?" "Mr Elthorne has dropped asleep, ma'am." "Well, I'll go in and sit with him till he wakes." "Excuse me, madam," said Nurse Elisia, barring the way; "he must not be disturbed." "My good woman!" cried Aunt Anne again, ruffling up at anyone daring to interfere with her in that house, "I am not going to disturb him. Surely I know perfectly how to behave to a sick person." "Of course, ma'am," said the nurse quietly, "and I am sorry to have to interfere." "As you should be," said Aunt Anne tartly. "Have the goodness to stand on one side."