'It was when we were at the Cape, wasn't it?' asked Hal.

'Yes, the year Gillian was born. Well, your dear Uncle Claude went to
see Maurice in London, and found there was much excuse. Maurice had
learnt that the old professor was dying, and his daughter had nothing,
and would have had to be a governess, so that Maurice had married her
in haste in order to be able to help them.'

'Then it really was very kind and noble in him!' exclaimed Gillian.

'And I believe every one would have felt it so; but for his
unfortunately reserved way of concealing the extent of the
acquaintance, and showing that he would not be interfered with. Claude
did his best to close the breach, but there had been something to
forgive on both sides, and perhaps SHE was prouder than the Mohuns
themselves. Oh! my dears, I hope you will never have a family quarrel
among you! It is so sad to look back upon a change after the happy
years when we were all together, and were laughing and making fun of
one another!'

'But you were quite out of it, mamma.'

'So I was in a way, but I knew nothing of the justification till too
late for any advances from us to take much effect. I am four years
older than Maurice, we had never been a pair, and had never
corresponded. And when I wrote to him and to his wife, I only received
stiff, formal answers. They were abroad when we were in London on
coming home, and they would not come to see us at Belfast, so that I
could never make acquaintance with her; but I believe she was an
excellent wife, suiting him admirably in every way, and I expect to