But they were not prepared for her invincible resolution to read the Instructions; for the terrible questions which she had put to the lawyer; for her immovable determination to fix all the circumstances in her mind, under which Michael Vanstone's decision had been pronounced.

There she stood at the window, an unfathomable mystery to the sister who had never been parted from her, to the governess who had trained her from a child.

Miss Garth remembered the dark doubts which had crossed her mind on the day when she and Magdalen had met in the garden.

Norah looked forward to the coming time, with the first serious dread of it on her sister's account which she had felt yet.

Both had hitherto remained passive, in despair of knowing what to do.