rough life of an ordinary school. He should take the charges upon
himself, and had written to his agent in London to find out such
an establishment, to make arrangements for Robert to go there, and
to send down one of his clerks to take charge of him on the journey.
He also wrote to Isobel, telling her what he had done, and blaming
himself for not having thought of it before, winding up by saying:
"I have not mentioned to your mother that I heard from you about
it--that is a little secret just as well to keep to ourselves."

The next five years were much happier to Isobel, for the thought
of her brother at home without her had before been constantly on
her mind. It was a delight to her now to go home and to see the
steady improvement that took place in Robert. He was brighter in
every respect, and expressed himself as most happy where he was.

As years went on he grew into a bright and intelligent boy, though
his health was by no means good, and he looked frail and delicate.
He was as passionately attached to her as ever, and during the
holidays they were never separated; they stood quite alone, their
mother and sister interesting themselves but little in their doings,
and they were allowed to take long walks together, and to sit in
a room by themselves, where they talked, drew, painted, and read.

Mrs. Hannay disapproved of Isobel as much as ever. "She is a most
headstrong girl," she would lament to her friends, "and is really
quite beyond my control. I do not at all approve of the school she
is at, but unfortunately my brother in law, who is her guardian,
has, under the will of my poor husband, absolute control in the
matter. I am sure poor John never intended that he should be able
to override my wishes; but though I have written to him several