“You needn’t tell my mother anything about Miss Brownlow,” he said hurriedly, in a low voice, with his hat in his hand and his eyes on the floor.

“But why not? I think she would be pleased. Mamma likes her. And poor mamma wants cheering just now.”

“Yes; but it might not come off, you know, and then she’d be disappointed. Well, you’ll see me again in a fortnight.”

“You’re more assiduous in your courtship of Miss Brownlow than you were in my case.”

“Yes, there’s more work to do in getting up the excitement.”

“Godwin, I have something serious to say to you about mamma. You know how reserved she is.”

“Yes.”

“And don’t you notice a difference in her from visit to visit.”

“I am afraid I do. And I know the reason of it—Rees.”

Deborah’s voice dropped to an emphatic whisper.