CHAPTER II. HEARTS RENT ASUNDER. Tremble not, though darkly gather Clouds and tempests o'er thy sky; Loves thee best when storms are nigh. SIR EDWARD wrote to his son Arthur as soon as Lady Cleveland's remains were interred, but the letter, together with one which had been sent some days before, informing him of his mother's danger, did not reach him for two or three weeks, owing to the uncertainty of his movements. The two who were left at Cleveland Manor were now all in all to each other. "Their hearts seemed bound with a stronger tie when they shared the cup of adversity." Blanche was more constantly her papa's companion than she had hitherto been; to him she read her chapter morning and evening, as she had been accustomed to do to her mama, and then Sir Edward would encourage her to talk to him upon it in her own simple way. The mother's death had brought the father and the child into closer communion. One morning-it was about a month after Lady Cleveland's death-Sir Edward called his little daughter to him just after breakfast (Blanche always took her meals with her papa now), and, taking her on his lap, said, pose I were to send my little Blanche away from me, what would she do?" Sup Blanche started up from her papa's arms, and stared him in the face in absolute astonishment. She saw that he looked sad and sorrowful. 66 Papa, what do you mean?" "My poor little Blanche, they tell me that you and I must part." "Part! oh, papa, why? What for can't we live together as we have done ?" "Our physician, my child, advises change of air for me, and recommends me to join told me, and you are going to die too. Oh! what shall I do ?" Blanche's little heart was full almost to bursting; her sobs nearly choked her. "Hush, hush, my poor little darling. I am not ill, indeed, Blanche, though my health is not so strong as it has been. But I shall not be long away, and then Arthur and I will come back, and we will all live here happily together." "But, papa, why can't I go with you? I would nurse you, and take care of you, and you would be well so much sooner if I were with you. Please let me go, papa; do." Sir Edward sighed. "I wrote to your Aunt Helen about you, Blanche, and she said I must on no account take you with me; it would ruin you, she said, to leave you there with no one but servants at your age, as, of course, I could not be so much with you as I am here; and she proposed to take charge of you during my absence." "And how long will that be, papa?" "I don't know exactly, but it will not be long, and I am sure my little girl had rather her papa were quite well, even though she has to be separated from him for a little while." "Oh yes, papa, indeed I would, and I will try not to feel so very miserable. But, oh dear, it will be miserable after all." "Aunt Helen will be very kind to you, I have no doubt, dear; and, perhaps, when I come back I shall find you so happy that I shall have to leave you with her." "Oh no, papa, I am sure you won't. I shall never, never be so happy anywhere as at my own dear home." "I don't think you will, Blanche. Your uncle comes this evening for you, and intends leaving to-morrow morning, so you had better go and tell nurse to prepare your things." "So soon, oh, papa !" "The sooner the better, both for you and me, Blanche." Mr. Henry Cleveland, the only brother of Sir Edward, arrived that evening. Blanche was called down from the nursery to see him. He was very much like her papa, but not nearly so nice, Blanche thought. He was very affectionate towards her, however, and Blanche, though rather shy at first, soon made friends with him. "You will have to give this child to me. altogether, Edward,” he said. "I can't spare her, Henry; and, besides, she would not agree to that, would you, Blanche ?" "Oh no, papa. And uncle has two daughters already, haven't you, uncle?" "Yes, Blanche, but they are both at school now. However, they will be home in a few weeks." "How old are they, uncle ?" "Harriet is fourteen, and Fanny twelve, |