“No, I shan’t worry her mother about it,” said the Colonel, shutting his mouth closely as if he were locking it up. When Dr. Southwood was gone, however, he stopped the two girls who were lingering about to know the doctor’s opinion, and detaching Betty’s arm from about Bee’s waist drew his eldest daughter into his study and shut the door. “I want to speak to you, Bee,” he said. “Yes, papa.” In this call to her alone to receive some communication, Bee, as may be imagined, jumped to a conclusion quite different from what her father intended, and almost for the moment forgot mamma. “The doctor tells me that above everything your mother must be kept from worry. Do you understand? In the circumstances it is extremely important that you should know this.” “Papa,” she cried, half in indignation half in disappointment, “do you think that I would worry her--in any circumstances?” “I think that girls of your age often think that no affairs are so important as your own, and it is very likely that you may be of that opinion, and I wish you to know what the doctor says.” “Is mamma--very ill?” Bee asked, bewildered. “He does not say so--only that she is not to be fretted or contradicted, or disturbed about anything. I feel it necessary to warn you, Bee.” “Why me above the rest?” she cried. “Am I likely to be the one to worry mamma?” “The others have no particular affairs of their own to worry her with. There must be no private talks, no discussions, no endeavours to get her upon what you may suppose to be your side.” Bee gave her father a glance of fire, but she felt that a little prudence was necessary, and kept the tumult of feeling which was within her as much as possible in her own breast. “I have always talked to mamma of everything that was in my mind,” she said, piteously. “I don’t know how I am to stop. She would wonder so if I stopped talking; and how can I talk to her except of things that are in my mind?” “You must learn,” said the Colonel, “to think of her more than of yourself.” He did not at all mean to prescribe to her a course of conduct more elevated than that he meant to pursue himself, but then it was only in action that he meant to carry out his purposes, he was not afraid of committing himself in speech. Bee looked at him again with a gaze that asked a great many questions, but she only answered, “I will try my very best, papa.” “If you do, I am sure you will succeed, my dear,” he said, in a gentler tone. “Is that all?” she asked, hesitating. “That is all I want with you just now.” Bee turned away towards the door, and then she paused and made a step back. “Papa!” “Yes, Bee.” “Would you mind telling me--I will not say a word to her--but oh, please tell me--” “What is it?” said the Colonel. He went to his writing table, and sitting down began to turn over his papers. His tone was slightly impatient, his eyebrows slightly raised, as if in surprise.