“I am afraid your brother would think us very ungrateful if he could see how badly we are thanking him for his great kindness to Harry.”
Graeme forced herself to say it. Allan’s name had not been mentioned among them for days, and the silence, at first grateful, had come to seem strange and unnatural, and it made Graeme’s cheeks tingle to think what might be the cause. So, looking into Charlie’s face with a smile, she spoke to him about his brother. But Charlie did not answer, or Graeme did not hear, and in a little while she said again,—
“Is Mr Ruthven still in town?”
“Oh! yes. It is not likely he will leave again soon.”
“And your uncle is really recovering from his last attack? What on anxious time Miss Elphinstone must have had!”
“Yes, he seems better, and, contrary to all expectation, seems likely to live for some time yet. But his mind is much affected. At least it seems so to me.”
“Poor Lilias!” said Graeme, “Is she still alone?”
“Oh, no. There is a houseful of them. Her aunt Mrs Roxbury is there, and I don’t know how many besides. I declare, I think those women enjoy it.”
Graeme looked shocked.
“Charlie means the preparations for the wedding,” said Rose. “It is to take place soon, is it not?”