"Then it's all true, then, about young Mr Linnell horse-whipping him?" "Yes, yes; but this is so cruel to me. He did beat him for insulting me." "Bless him then. I always liked him, my dear. How he must love you!" "Oh, hush, hush!" cried Claire, in agony. "I don't see why. I'm sure he's everything that's good and brave; and you need not sob like that, my dear, for, from what I can hear, he isn't very badly hurt." Claire started. A dread that had been hanging over her was beginning to assume form. "But they say it's a mercy that the Major's bullet did not go an inch lower." "Bullet? The Major! They have had a meeting?" "Yes, my dear. I thought you must know, and I came to talk to you about even speaking to--there--there, what a woman I am. I came to do good, and I'm doing nothing but harm. Now, she's going to faint." "No, no!" cried Claire agitatedly; "it is nothing. I am not going to faint, Mrs Barclay, indeed. There, you see, I am quite calm now." "Yes, and I am sorry, my dear; but I am such a thoughtless woman. Barclay's quite right; I haven't no head at all." "No head?" said Claire, smiling, as she sat down close to her visitor and laid her hands upon her arm. "Perhaps it is because you have so much heart." "Heart, my dear! why--no; I declare I'm most afraid to speak, for fear of saying something that may hurt your feelings." "If you will not speak about--about--" "Mr Linnell, my dear?" "Yes, but only to tell me that he is not much hurt--you said so, did you not?" cried Claire. "Yes, my dear; he's not much hurt. But, Claire, my dear, wouldn't it be better if you--so pretty and young as you are--did care very much for some one as nice and good as he is?" "No, no," cried Claire excitedly. "Pray, pray say no more. It is impossible." "Well, you know best, my dear," said Mrs Barclay sadly; "and you want me to talk about something else. Well, I'll talk about you, only you must not mind if I say something stupid. It's my way." "I am sure you would not say anything to wound me," said Claire, kissing her. "Indeed I wouldn't, my dear: and, do you know, ever since I found out how you people here were situated, through Mr Denville coming to see my Josiah, who is the real best of men, I seemed to take to you like. I went home and had a good cry after I'd been here the first time, and seen you managing your poor father, and your sister and brother so well." Claire's brow grew troubled, but her visitor prattled on. "You had another brother, hadn't you, my dear, who couldn't agree with your father like, and then went away?" "Yes," said Claire, bowing her head to hide her face. "Ah, my Josiah told me so. Well, well, there's troubles in every family, my dear; and so long as pa has got you he has not much cause for complaint." Claire looked up, trying to smile, but it was a sorry attempt; and soon after her guest rose, assuring her that she need not be uneasy about Mr Linnell.