"I mean my brother, Anne. When news came out to India that he had died in that shocking manner, following upon poor George—I don't care now to recall how I felt. Was there no one at hand to save him?"
"No one. A sad fatality seemed to attend it altogether. Val regrets his brother bitterly to this day."
"And that poor Willy Gum was killed at sea, after all!"
"Yes," said Anne, shortly. "When you spoke of Edward," returning to the other subject, "I thought you meant the boy."
Lady Laura shook her head. "He will never get well, Anne. Death is written on his face."
"You would say so, if you saw him some days. He is excitable, and your coming has roused him. I never saw any one fluctuate so; one day dying, the next better again. For myself I have very little hope, and Mr. Hillary has none; but I dare not say so to Margaret and the dowager."
"Why not?"
"It makes them angry. They cannot bear to hear there's a possibility of his death. Margaret may see the danger, but I don't believe the dowager does."
"Their wishes must blind them," observed Lady Laura. "The dowager seems all fury and folly. She scarcely gave herself time to welcome me this morning, or to inquire how I was after my long voyage; but began descanting on a host of evils, the chief being that her grandson should have had fever."
"She would like him to bear a charmed life. Not for love of him, Laura."