stone, which thrills the heart with a deep feeling at once of love, sorrow and reverence; that stone which recalls the desolate night which, in darkness and ruin, amid torn banners, and scutcheons riven, saw the Martyr king go white to his grave. Marian entered into all these things, in spite of her anxiety, for her mind was free enough to be open to external objects, now that her brother was in Edmund's hands, and she was relieved of that burthen of responsibility which had so pressed on her.
Such was their Eton day, and with no more satisfaction from Gerald did they part at the Slough station. The Marchmonts were loud in his praise, Marian sought the real opinion in Edmund's eyes, but he was leaning back, looking meditative, and when first he roused himself to enter into conversation, it was of Lionel and not of Gerald that he spoke.
'Do you say that any one has looked at that boy's eyes?'
'Yes, Mr. Wells, the Oakworthy apothecary.'
'Do you know what is thought of him?'
'I don't know,' said Marian considering. 'He attends a good many people, I believe he is thought well of; but no one ever is ill at home, so I have no experience of him. Yes, he was called in once when we all had the measles, and last winter about Lionel's eyes. I am sure I don't know whether he is what you would call a good doctor or not; all I know is, that he is not at all like Dr. Oldham.'
Edmund smiled. 'Has Mrs. Lyddell not been uneasy?'
'O no!' said Marian. 'No one ever troubles their head about Lionel, besides it was always so.'
'Always how?'
'His eyes were always weak, and easily tired and dazzled, from the very first when I knew him. They don't look as if there was anything amiss with them, and so people don't suspect it.'
'I think they do look very much amiss,' said Edmund. 'Do not you observe an indistinctness about the pupil, between it and the iris? Can you tell whether that was always the case?'
'I don't know, I see what you mean. I should say it had begun of late. Do you think it so bad a sign?' she asked anxiously.
'I am not sure; I only know if he belonged to me, I should not like it at all.'
Marian pondered and feared, and considered if it would be possible to stir up Mrs. Lyddell; she herself was much startled, and rather indignant; but she doubted greatly whether poor Lionel was of sufficient importance in the family for any one to be very anxious on his account. In the meantime, she was extremely desirous of hearing what account Edmund had received from the tutor respecting her brother, but she had no opportunity till late in the evening, when he came and sat by her on the sofa, saying, 'Now, Marian, I will answer your anxious eyes, though I am afraid I have nothing very satisfactory to tell you. I don't know that there is any positive harm--it is only the old story of a clever boy with too much money, and too much left to himself. Idleness and thoughtlessness.'
'And what shall you do?'
'I don't know--I must think.'
Whereupon they both sat silent.
'I shall see you again in the summer,' said he.
'O yes--perhaps you will come in Gerald's holidays.'
Another silence, then she said, 'Do you think very badly of poor Lionel's eyes?'
'No, I don't say that, for I know nothing, only I wonder his family are not more anxious.'
