WHEN Colonel Sutherland had been established for nearly half-an-hour in the angular arm-chair, which was the most luxurious seat this room afforded, where he sat holding Susan's hand and keeping her by his side, it suddenly occurred to him that he had forgotten the other members of the family in his satisfaction with his new-found niece. "But, my dear child, your father?" he said, hastily; "he expected me, did he not?--he is surely at home." And instantly Susan's countenance fell. The old Colonel had begun to recover his spirits about his brother-in-law's house. He saw Susan in blooming health, affectionate, frank, and cheerful, and he began, with natural hopefulness, to impute the dismal house and solitary life to some caprice, and to imagine to himself a loving, united family, who were society enough to themselves. But it was impossible to mistake the cloud which fell instantly upon Susan's face. "Oh!--I ought to have told papa," she said, with a hesitation and reluctance in her voice which went to her uncle's heart. He drew her still closer to him, and looked in her face anxiously. But Susan knew nothing of that domestic martyrdom which conceals and smiles on the family skeleton. She was not aware how great a skeleton it was--it was simply a thing of course, to her inexperienced spirit. "I should think he must have heard--I should think Peggy must have told him," said Susan. "He is not so angry when Peggy goes into the study as when I go; but if you like, I will go and tell him, uncle, now." "Never mind, Susan. I daresay your father will come when he chooses. A deaf man would have heard Peggy's shout," said Colonel Sutherland; "and Horace--was there nobody but my little girl who came to see the old uncle--is your brother in the study too?" "In the study!--he would as soon go down the well or up the chimney," said Susan, with a very short and half-frightened laugh. "No, uncle--Horace is in Faneleigh Woods, or on the Moor. He never minds the weather. I do think at this time of the year he gets wet through three times a-week; but I am sure Horace will be very glad to see you--as glad as I was--oh, I am quite sure!"