Tom's look and gesture made her ask if he knew of anything wrong with their old friend; and in return, she was told that Dr. Spencer's recent visit to London had been to consult Sir Matthew Fleet. The foundations of mortal disease had been laid in India, and though it might long remain in abeyance, there were from time to time symptoms of activity; and tedious lingering infirmity was likely to commence long before the end. 'And what do you think the strange old fellow charged me as we walked away from dining at Fleet's?' 'Secrecy, of course,' returned the much-shocked Ethel. 'One does keep a secret by telling you. It was to have my eye on some lodging with a decent landlady, where, when it is coming to that, he can go up to be alone, out of the way of troubling Dick, and of all of you.' 'Tom, how dreadful!' 'I fancy it is something of the animal instinct of creeping away alone, and partly his law to himself not to trouble Dick.' 'An odd idea of what would trouble Dick!' 'So I told him; but he said, after seeing what it cost my father to watch dear Margaret's long decay, he would never entail the like on him. It is queer, and it is beautiful, the tender way he has about my father, treating him like a pet to be shielded and guarded--a man that has five times the force and vigour of body and mind that he has now, whatever they may have been.' 'Very beautiful, and I cannot help telling you how beautiful,' said Ethel, greatly moved; 'only remember, it is not to be mentioned.' 'Ha! did he ever make you an offer? I have sometimes suspected it.' 'No indeed! It was much--much more beautiful than that!' 'Our mother then? I had thought of that too, and it accounts for his having always taken to you the most of us.' 'Why, I'm the least like her of us all!' 'So they say, I know, and I can't recollect enough to judge, except that'--and Tom's voice was less clear for a moment--'there was something in being with her that I've never found again, except now and then with you, Ethel. Well, he never got over it, I suppose.' And Ethel briefly told of the rash resolution, the unsettled life, the neglect of the father's wishes, the grievous remorse, the broken health, and restless aimless wanderings, ending at last in loving tendance of the bereaved rival. It had been a life never wanting in generosity or benevolence, yet falling far short of what it might have been--a gallant voyage made by a wreck--and yet the injury had been less from the disappointment than from the manner of bearing it. Suddenly it struck her that Tom might suspect her of intending a personal application of the history, and she faltered; but he kept her to it by his warm interest and many questions. 'And oh, Tom, he must not be allowed to go away in this manner! Nothing would so cut papa to the heart!'