Hester had not yet said a word about her own affairs. No one but the major knew that the engagement to lord Gartley was broken. She did not want to add still another element of perturbance to the overcharged atmosphere. She would not add disappointment to grief.

In the afternoon the major, who was staying in the village two miles off, made his appearance. No sooner did he learn of Mark’s condition than he insisted on taking charge of him. Hester could not but be pleased with the proposal, for she had so much else to see to. So the major took the position of head nurse, with Saffy for his aide and one of the servants for an orderly.

Hester’s mind was almost constantly occupied with wondering how to let her father and mother know what they must know soon, and ought to know as soon as possible. She would tell her father first. Her mother should not know till he did. But she could not see how to begin. Everything seemed at a standstill.

So she waited, as she should. For much harm comes of the impatience that outstrips guidance. People are too ready to think something must be done, and forget that the time for action may not have arrived, that there is seldom more than one thing fit to be done, and that doing the wrong thing before that one right thing is revealed is always worse than doing nothing.

Cornelius gradually grew better and at last was able to go downstairs. But the weather continued so unfavourable that he could not go outside. He had not yet seen his father, and his dread of seeing him grew to a terror. He never left his room unless he knew his father was not in the house, and, even then, would sit at some window that commanded a view of the door by which he was most likely to enter. He enticed Saffy to be his scout and bring him word in what direction his father went. The father was just as anxious to avoid him, fully intending, if he met him, to turn his back upon him. But it was a rambling and roomy old house, and there was plenty of space for both. A whole week passed and they had not met—to Hester’s disappointment, who cherished some hope in a chance encounter.

She had just one consolation. Ever since Cornelius had been safe under her wing, their mother had been noticeably improving. But even this was a source of irritation to the father’s brooding selfishness. He thought to himself, “Here I have been nursing her through the illness in vain, and the moment she gets the rascal back, she begins to improve! She would be perfectly happy with him if she never saw me again!”

The two brothers had not yet met. For one thing, Corney disliked the major, and for another, the major objected to an interview. He felt certain the disfigurement of Corney would distress Mark too much, and retard the possible recovery of which he was already in great doubt.