“Oh, my dear woman, the servants know all about it,” said Miss Somers. “They talk more about it than we do; that is always the way with them. I might give a hint, you know; but they speak plain. No; he was not happy when he was a boy; he went wandering all about and about----” “But that was for his education,” said the anxious inquirer, whose interest in the question did not astonish Miss Somers. To her it seemed only natural that the Ardens should be prominent in everybody’s horizon. She shook her head with such a continuous shake, that Mercy was tempted to interfere. “You’ll have the headache, Miss, if you don’t mind,” said Mercy, coming forward; “and me and John both thinks that it ain’t what the Doctor would like, to see you a-sitting here.” “It’s only for a minute,” said the invalid, humbly, “I want a little breath, after being so long shut up. You may think what it would be if you were shut up for two years. Would you tell John to go and gather me some may, there’s a dear good creature? I am so interested in these nice people; and my brother says---- Some may, please, John; not the brown branches that are going off---- I think I saw some there. Mercy, you have such good eyes, go and show him, please. There, now they are gone, one can talk. Old servants are a great blessing, though sometimes---- But it is all their interest in one, you know. His education was the excuse. I remember when I was young, Mary Thorpe---- They said it was to learn Italian; but if that young man had not been so poor---- It is such a strange, strange world! If people were to think less of money, don’t you think it would be happier, especially for young girls? I hope it is not anything of that kind with your poor little grandchild; but then she is so young----” “You were speaking of Mr. Arden,” said Mrs. Murray, with a sigh; and then she added--“But he is the only heir, and all’s his now.” “Oh, yes, all is his--the dear fellow; but he is not the only heir; there is Clare, you know---- Don’t you hate entails, and that sort of thing, that cut off the girls? We may not be so clever, though I am sure I don’t know---- But we can’t live without a little money, all the same. I say to my brother sometimes--but then he is so impatient. And Clare is wonderfully superior--equal to any man. I think, though I have seen her every day for years, I get on better with Edgar. It makes my poor head ache, I am such a helpless creature, not good for anything. If you could have seen me a few years back you would not know me. I was always running about: the ‘little busy bee;’ when I was young that is what they always used to call me. There was a gentleman that used to say--a Mr. Templeton, of the Royal Navy---- but there were difficulties, you know---- Oh, yes; I remember, about Arden---- I do run on, I know; my brother is always telling me I lose the thread, but why there should be a thread---- Yes, there is another Arden--Arthur Arden; you must have seen him pass just now.”