"It is a sad blow for us all," Mrs. Hannay wrote, "but, as you
know, he has never been strong; still, we had no idea that anything
serious ailed him until we heard a fortnight since he was suffering
from a violent cough and had lost strength rapidly. A week later
we heard that the doctors were of opinion it was a case of sudden
consumption, and that the end was rapidly approaching. I went up
to town to see him, and found him even worse than I expected, and
was in no way surprised when this morning I received a letter saying
that he had gone. Great as is the blow, one cannot but feel that,
terribly afflicted as he was, his death is, as far as he is concerned,
a happy release. I trust you will now abandon your wild scheme of
teaching and come home."

But home was less home than ever to Isobel now, and she remained
another six months at school, when she received an important letter
from her uncle.

"My Dear Isobel: When you first wrote to me and told me that what you
were most looking forward to was to make a home for your brother,
I own that it was a blow to me, for I had long had plans of my own
about you; however, I thought your desire to help your brother was
so natural, and would give you such happiness in carrying it into
effect, that I at once fell in with it and put aside my own plan.
But the case is altered now, and I can see no reason why I cannot
have my own way. When I was in England I made up my mind that unless
I married, which was a most improbable contingency, I would, when
you were old enough, have you out to keep house for me. I foresaw,
even then, that your brother might prove an obstacle to this plan.
Even in the short time I was with you it was easy enough to see