I think, however, that you had better keep the letter until my return.

It will be the most prudent course." Keep the letter! Its contents were already in the heart of Fanny! "Where's Edward?
What's the matter ?" queried Aunt Grace, coming up at this moment, and seeing that all colour had left the cheeks of Mrs.Markland.
Scarcely reflecting on what she did, the latter handed her husband's letter in silence to her sister-in-law, and tottered, rather than walked, to a garden chair near at hand.
"Well, now, here is pretty business, upon my word!" exclaimed Aunt Grace, warmly.

"Sending a letter to our Fanny! Who ever heard of such assurance! Oh! I knew that some trouble would come of his visit here.

I felt it the moment I set my eyes on him.

Keep the letter from Fanny?
Of course you will; and when you have a talk with Edward about it, just let me be there; I want my say." "It is too late," murmured the unhappy mother, in a low, sad voice.
"Too late! How?
What do you mean, Agnes ?" "Fanny has the letter already." "What!" There was a sharp, thrusting rebuke in the voice of Aunt Grace, that seemed like a sword in the heart of Mrs.Markland.
"She stood by me when I opened her father's letter, enclosing the one for her.