say it would be done. I am sure she and Helena would be glad enough.
I don't suppose she ever thought of it. It would be a relief to
them to get him out of their sight."

Miss Virtue shook her head. "You must not talk so, Isobel. It is
not right or dutiful, and you are a great deal too young to judge
your elders, even if they were not related to you; and, pray, if
you write to your uncle do not write in that spirit--it would
shock him greatly, and he would form a very bad opinion of you."

And so Isobel wrote. She was in the habit of writing once every
half year to her uncle, who had told her that he wished her to do
so, and that people out abroad had great pleasure in letters from
England. Hitherto she had only written about her school life, and
this letter caused her a great deal of trouble.

It answered its purpose. Captain Hannay had no liking either for
his sister in law or his eldest niece, and had, when he was with
them, been struck with the neglect with which the little boy was
treated. Isobel had taken great pains not to say anything that
would show she considered that Robert was harshly treated; but had
simply said that she heard there were schools where little boys
like him could be taught, and that it would be such a great thing
for him, as it was very dull for him having nothing to do all day.
But Captain Hannay read through the lines, and felt that it was
a protest against her brother's treatment, and that she would not
have written to him had she not felt that so only would anything
be done for him. Accordingly he wrote home to his sister in law,
saying he thought it was quite time now that the boy should be
placed with some gentleman who took a few lads unfitted for the