[Frontispiece: 'I HAVE SEALED THE DIRECTIONS IN THIS ENVELOPE. ']

THE CARVED CUPBOARD

BY

AMY LE FEUVRE

AUTHOR OF

 'PROBABLE SONS, ' 'TEDDY'S BUTTON, ' 'LEGEND LED, ' 'ODD MADE EVEN, ' 'HEATHER'S MISTRESS, ' ETC. 

R. T. S. , 4 Bouverie Street, London, E. C. 4

1899

Contents

CHAPTER I A SUPPLANTER

CHAPTER II FOUR VERSES

CHAPTER III A COUNTRY HOME

CHAPTER IV BLUEBEARD'S CUPBOARD

CHAPTER V A QUIET SUNDAY

CHAPTER VI A DEPARTURE

CHAPTER VII UNREST

CHAPTER VIII ENTERTAINING A STRANGER

CHAPTER IX GWEN'S RESOLVE

CHAPTER X CLARE'S DISCOVERY

CHAPTER XI AGATHA'S LEGACY

CHAPTER XII OUT IN CALIFORNIA

CHAPTER XIII HIS LAST MESSAGE

CHAPTER XIV THE COUSINS' RETURN

CHAPTER XV ALICK LESTER

CHAPTER XVI BRINGING BAD TIDINGS

CHAPTER XVII ELFIE'S CHOICE

CHAPTER XVIII PATTY'S GRAVE

CHAPTER XIX THE RIGHTFUL HEIR

CHAPTER XX BROUGHT BACK

ILLUSTRATIONS

'I HAVE SEALED THE DIRECTIONS IN THIS ENVELOPE. ' . . . . . . _Frontispiece_

AND SAW A MAN ON HIS KNEES BY THE CUPBOARD

THE CARVED CUPBOARD

CHAPTER I

A Supplanter

 'For troubles wrought of men, Patience is hard. '--_J. Ingelow. _

The firelight shone upon a comfortably-furnished drawing-room in one ofthe quiet London squares, and upon four girlish figures grouped arounda small tea-table. Agatha Dane, the eldest, sat back in her chair witha little wrinkle of perplexity upon her usually placid brow. Ratherplump and short of stature, with no pretensions to beauty, there wasyet something very attractive in her bright open countenance; and shewas one to whom many turned instinctively for comfort and help. 

Gwendoline, who sat next her, and was doing most of the talking, was atall, slight, handsome girl, with dark eyes that flashed and sparkledwith animation as she spoke, and there was a certain stateliness ofcarriage that made some of her acquaintances term her proud. 

Clare was toying absently with her spoon and tea-cup; she waslistening, and occasionally put in a word, but her thoughts wereevidently elsewhere. She had not the determination in her face thatwas Gwendoline's characteristic; and perhaps the varying expressionspassing over it, and so transparent to those who knew her, formed herchief charm. There was a wistfulness in her dark blue eyes, and a lookof expectation that one longed to see fulfilled; and her dreamypreoccupied manner often made her friends wonder if she spent all hertime in dreamland. 

Elfrida sat on the hearth-rug with her sunny hair glistening in thefirelight. She was the youngest and prettiest of the four, and hadonly just returned from Germany that same day. It was her eagerquestioning that was making them all linger over their tea. 

'But I don't understand, ' she said, a little impatiently. 'How doesCousin James happen to be here at all? Aunt Mildred never cared forhim. She said last year when I was home that he was a regular screw, and that he only came on a visit to save his housekeeping bills. Now Icome back and find dear Aunt Mildred gone, and he in full possession ofour home, ready to turn us out to-morrow, you say! Aunt Mildred alwaystold us we should never want after her death. '

'We shall not actually do that, ' said Agatha quietly, 'for she has leftus a legacy each, which will at any rate keep the wolf from the door. '

'But hasn't she left us Dane Hall? She always said she would. '

'No; a codicil to that will has been added since James has been here. '

'Yes; he has managed it beautifully, ' put in Gwendoline, with scorn inher tone. 'He came down here directly he heard she was ill, andestablished himself in the dressing-room next to hers. Clare has beenaway, but Agatha and I were virtually shut out of the sick-room fromthe time he entered the house. He got a trained nurse; said Agatha wasworn out, and must rest; and told Nannie she was too old and toonear-sighted to be left alone with her mistress. The poor old soul hasbeen weeping her eyes out since! Then he took advantage of AuntMildred's state of weakness, and worried and coaxed her into makingthis unjust codicil. All in his favour, of course; I don't believepoor aunt knew what she was doing. And we shall have to shift forourselves now. I hope he will enjoy his unrighteous possessions. I--Ihate him!'

'What are we going to do?'

'Well, ' said Agatha, rousing herself, 'we have been talking overmatters together. You see, we can be independent of each other if wechoose, for we are all of age, and have each about 100 pounds a year, besides what the sale of this house will bring us. '

'Oh, she left us this house, did she? Then why can't we go on livinghere?'

'The lease terminates at the end of this year, and we have not theincome to keep it up. Why, Elfie, a town house like this is ruinousfor people of small means! I feel anxious for us to have a hometogether somewhere, even if we have to go into the country for it; but, of course, I would not influence any of you to side with me againstyour inclinations. '

'It would be an establishment of old maids; single women, shall we say?It doesn't sound very nice, buried away in the country. '

Elfie spoke dubiously; then Gwen broke in, 'Well, if Clare is wise, shewill marry soon. I'm sure two years' engagement ought to be longenough in all conscience to satisfy her!'

Clare's soft cheeks flushed a little. 

'Hugh is going out to Africa, you know, with a survey party. We couldnot settle till after that. He is quite of the same mind as I am onthat point!'

'Do you like the country plan, Gwen?' asked Elfie. 

'Yes, I think I do. I am personally sick of town. A suburban lifewould be intolerable, and we have all resources enough to prevent usfrom stagnating. '

Elfie gave a little sigh. 

'You don't know how I was looking forward to a London season. I havebeen in Germany ever since I left school, studying music. And now whatis the good of it? I shall be out of touch with it entirely. '

'Would you like to stay in town for a little?' asked Agathasympathetically. 'We could easily arrange for you to board with somenice people somewhere. '

'No, I will come with you, and see how it works. I suppose we shallnot be banished from London for ever? We can sometimes come up for ashort stay?'

'Oh yes, I think so. We have not settled where to live yet, but wehave been looking through some house agents' lists, and Gwen is full ofplans, as usual. '

'You would be badly off without me to keep you all alive, ' said Gwenlaughing. 'If I were by myself, I would like nothing better than acaravan or a house-boat; but that wouldn't suit all of us. '

'Not me, ' said Clare, with a little grimace of disgust. 

'Oh, it is a shame!' exclaimed Elfie, springing up, and walking up anddown in her excitement; 'how dare Cousin James behave so treacherously!Can't we dispute the will? Can't we go to law?'

'It is useless to think of such a thing. We can prove nothing. He isa man, and has had a jealous feeling of us all our lives. Now fortunehas favoured him, and he is glorying in his prosperity. He is rightlynamed James, or Jacob, for he is a base supplanter!'

'Will you give me a cup of tea?'

Gwen started at the voice following her hot outburst so quickly, andElfie stopped her hurried walk, and turned a little defiantly towardsthe new-comer. 

Mr. James Dane was a quiet-looking, sprucely-dressed man of over fortyyears of age. He seated himself with the greatest equanimity in themidst of the group, and Agatha in silence poured him out a cup of tea, and handed it to him. 

'I am afraid I have interrupted a very animated discussion, ' he saidblandly. 'I suppose you are arranging future plans. Of course, youcannot well remain here. Would you like me to take any steps about thesale for you? I shall be a week longer in town. '

'Mr. Watkins will arrange all that for us, thank you, ' replied Agathaquietly. 

'Oh, very well. Why, Elfrida, I never noticed you! Just come backfrom Germany, have you? It seems to have suited your health. You arelooking quite bonny. '

'I don't feel so, ' was the blunt reply; 'it is not a very happyhome-coming!'

'No, of course not. But, as my wife was saying this morning, you girlscan only have pleasant memories of your dear aunt, who did so much foryou all when she was alive. I remember when first you all arrived fromIndia, and she was in such an anxious state of bewilderment at thethought of the charge of four orphan children, my mother said to her, "Oh, well, Mildred, if you are good enough to educate them, they willnaturally do something later to relieve you of the burden ofmaintaining them. " And my wife and I have been so surprised at yourall continuing to look upon her house as your rightful home. I supposein the goodness of her heart she insisted upon it. Still, nowadays, young ladies are so independent, and have such a wide scope for theirtalents, that we quite expected to hear you were supporting yourselves, after the liberal education that you have received. '

There was dead silence after this speech, which Gwen broke at last, andher tone was haughtiness itself. 

'As you have met with such success in your visit here, Cousin James, you could at least afford to be generous towards us. You have onemercy to be thankful for, and that is, that we never have, and nevershall, look to you to maintain us!'

And then she left the room, shutting the door behind her with a ratherungentle hand. Mr. Dane smiled, passed his cup to be refilled, andthen turned to Clare. 

'I suppose your marriage will be hastened now, will it not? When isthe happy day to be?'

'I will let you know when it is settled, ' was the quiet reply. 

'Come upstairs with me, Clare, and see Nannie, ' said Elfie impetuously;'I haven't been near her yet, dear old thing!'

The two girls quitted the room together, and with a little sigh Agathasettled herself down to a _tête-à-tête_ with her cousin. 

'You girls have all assumed such aggressive demeanours towards me, thatI really hardly know if you will take any advice from me. It isexceedingly foolish to adopt such airs. No doubt you are disappointedin not being the sole heiresses of our aunt, but you ought not to haveexpected it for a moment. She had for a long time regretted makingthat rash will, which was drawn up when her heart was full of pity foryour penniless condition. Only, being in such robust health, shealways put off doing it until this last sad illness of hers. Where doyou think of settling?'

'We have not made up our minds. '

'Have you heard from your brother lately? Is he doing better than hewas? It is such a mistake for a young fellow to think he will make hisfortune in the Colonies nowadays. I only hope you may not find himthrown on your hands soon. '

'Walter is doing very well, thank you. There is no chance of hiscoming back to England for a good long time. '

'I have been wondering whether you would like to settle somewhere nearLondon. I have some house property at Hampstead, and could let youhave a small villa there at a very reasonable rent. Of course, understand, this is entirely because I should like to give you any helpthat I can. '

At this Agatha could not help smiling. 

'It is very kind of you, but we have decided to live in the country. '

'I am surprised. Have you ever tried a country life in the winter? Iam afraid you will find it a great failure. And, remember, unprotectedfemales, choosing an isolated position, run the risk of being robbed. If you do go to the country, be sure and get a house near others. Well, I must be going. Say good-bye to the others for me. I shalllook in again on you before long, and if you want me, you know my club. Your cousin Helen has left town, and I shall be taking a trip to theContinent with her very soon. '

He rose, shook hands politely, and directly the door closed upon him, Agatha hastened to find her sisters. 

She knew where to look for them. In a small room at the end of thepassage past the best bedrooms, Nannie would now be taking herafternoon cup of tea. She had been with them all since they were quitetiny children; had brought them over from India after their parents'death, and had been kept in Miss Dane's service ever since--first astheir nurse, then as housekeeper, when they no longer needed her care. 

She was an old woman now, crippled with rheumatism; but she was abright and happy Christian, and had a good influence upon all who camein contact with her. It had been already arranged that she was to gointo an alms-house when the house was sold, and Miss Dane had left hera small legacy, so that her future was provided for. Agatha's face asshe opened the door was a troubled one. She saw the old woman in hereasy chair by the fire; Gwen and the two younger ones making themselvescomfortable round her; and all were talking freely to her of what hadpassed downstairs. 

'Come along, Agatha; has he gone?'

'Yes, ' was the reply; 'and I have come to Nannie to be soothed. Allthe way upstairs I have been saying to myself, "Fret not thyself, because of him who prospereth in his way. " But it is hard to see hisself-complacency. '

'Poor old thing! When Agatha is disturbed, it must be somethingindeed! Here is a seat. Nannie has been scolding us, and now sheshall scold you. '

CHAPTER II

Four Verses

'In preparing a guide to immortality, Infinite Wisdom gave not adictionary, nor a grammar, but a Bible--a book of heavenly doctrine, but withal of earthly adaptation. '--_J. Hamilton. _

The old woman looked through her glasses at her four nurslings with aloving eye; then she said very quietly, 'I have been hearing all aboutyour plans, Miss Agatha, and I'm thinking you have shown your wisdom inkeeping a home together. Forgive my plain speaking. I know 'tis anage for young ladies to make homes for themselves, anywhere andeverywhere, but unless a woman is married, 'tis a risky undertakin'!I've been inclined to fret that my working days are over, for dearlywould I like to have gone with you, and done what I could to make youcomfortable; but 'tis the Lord's will, and my age and helplessnessdoesn't prevent me from prayin' for you all! You have the same psalmin your mind, Miss Agatha, that I have been readin' and studyin' thisafternoon. I would dearly like to give you each a verse out of it, ifyou won't take offence. '

'We're in for one of Nannie's preaches!' said Gwen, laughing, as sheplaced a large-print Bible before her old nurse; 'but we shan't have achance of many more, so we promise to be attentive!'

'Ay, dear Miss Gwen, it isn't a preach! How often you come up here tohave a cup o' tea to refresh your bodies! and 'tis a bit of refreshmentto your souls that I'm now makin' so bold as to offer. ' Nannie turnedover the pages of her beloved Bible with a reverent hand, then shelooked across at Agatha. 

'My dear Miss Agatha, there are four verses here, with a command and apromise. I should like to give you each one to think of, through allthe troubles and trials that may come to you. Will you mark it in yourown Bibles, and live it out, remembering it was Nannie's verse for you, so that when I'm dead and gone you may still have the comfort andteachin' of it?'

Agatha was touched by the old woman's solemn earnestness. 

'Yes, Nannie, give it to me, and I will try and put it "into practice. "'

Nannie's voice rang out in the dusky firelit room, as she repeated, more from memory than by sight, --

'Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, andverily thou shalt be fed!'

'Thank you, Nannie, ' said Agatha after a pause, 'I will look it up andremember it. '

'Now mine, please, ' said Gwen, looking over the old woman's shoulder. 'Is it the next verse for me?'

'No, my dear, I think not. It seems to me that this must be the Lord'sword to you: "Commit thy way unto the Lord, trust also in Him, and Heshall bring it to pass. "'

'You have given me that because you think I like choosing my own waythrough life, now haven't you?'

'Maybe I have. Choosing our own ways and goin' in them always bringtrouble in the end. Now, Miss Clare, your verse is the beginning ofthe one Miss Agatha was sayin': "Rest in the Lord, and wait patientlyfor Him"; and, Miss Elfie, this is for you, "Delight thyself also inthe Lord, and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart. "'

'And I am the only one that has got a command without a promise, ' saidClare reproachfully. 

Nannie looked at Clare, then at her big Bible again. 

'You have a promise further on, Miss Clare, "Those that wait upon theLord, they shalt inherit the earth. "'

'Ah, Nannie, that is too big a promise to realize. If it was toinherit Dane Hall now!'

'My dear, since you were a little wee child, you have always beenlooking for something big. You will inherit more from God Almighty, ifyou wait for Him, than ever you could inherit without Him!'

There was silence for a few minutes; then Gwen said, trying to speaklightly, 'We shan't forget your verses, Nannie; and though I'm afraidnone of us will ever grow into such a saint as yourself, it won't befor want of an example before us. Now may we turn to business? Jacobhas gone, and we must bestir ourselves. I have cut out anadvertisement from the _Morning Post_, which I think sounds tempting. And as Agatha seems so slow in making up her mind, I think I shall takethe train to-morrow morning and go and inspect the place myself. Doesn't it sound as if it ought to suit us? "To Let. An old-fashionedcottage residence, four bedrooms, two attics, three reception-rooms, well-stocked fruit and vegetable garden. Owner called abroad suddenly;will let on reasonable terms!"'

'Where is it?' asked Elfie. 

'Hampshire. I wrote to the agent who advertises, and he said the rentwould be about 40 pounds. It is close to some pine woods, and onlythree miles from a town. It sounds nice, I think; at any rate, it isworth seeing about. '

'Do you like old-fashioned cottage residences?' said Clare verydubiously; 'they always remind me of rotten floors, rats and mice, anddamp musty rooms. '

I hate modern villas, ' retorted Gwen, 'with gimcrack walls and smokychimneys and bad drainage! This has an old-world sound. Let us, if welive out of town, choose an Arcadia, with nothing to remind us of theovercrowded suburbs. Are you willing I should go, Agatha, and comeback and report the land?'

Yes, ' said Agatha; 'better you should do it than I, for what suits youwill suit me, but what would suit me might not suit you. We will talkit over when you come back. '

And so it was settled; and after an early breakfast next day, Gwenstarted on her quest. 

She did not come back till between seven and eight o'clock in theevening, and seemed so tired that Agatha insisted upon her eating agood dinner before she gave an account of herself. Then, rested andrefreshed, she came into the drawing-room and settled herself in acomfortable chair by the fire to give her experiences. 

'I really think it will do, ' she began. 'I arrived at the stationabout twelve o'clock, and walked out the three miles, to see what thecountry was like. Brambleton is a clean, empty little town, with noone in the streets but a few tottering old men and children, a few goodshops, and there is a market every Friday. I walked along the highroad for a couple of miles, then turned up a lane with a ragged pieceof common at the end of it, passed one or two nice houses standing backin their own grounds, a little country church with parsonage adjoiningin the orthodox fashion, a cluster of thatched cottages, and finallycame to the "cottage residence. "'

'Is it in a village street?' asked Agatha. 

'No, not exactly. It is in a side road leading to a farm. It is a lowwhite house with a great box hedge hiding it from the road, and astone-flagged path leading up to the door. A blue trellis verandahruns right round it, which I rather liked, and a row of straw bee-hivesin front delighted me. There was an old woman in charge, who showed meall over, and talked unceasingly. '

'Now describe the rooms exactly, ' said Elfie eagerly; 'and did thehouse smell musty and damp?'

'No, I shouldn't say it was at all damp; of course rooms that have beenshut up always seem fusty and close. It is a little place; you mustnot think the rooms are anything like this. On one side of the door isa long low room, the width of the house, with a window at each end; theother side of the passage there are two smaller rooms; the kitchens, etcetera, lie out at the back; and the stairs go up in the middle ofthe passage. Four fair-sized bedrooms are above, and the two atticsare quite habitable. The back of the house has the best view; itoverlooks a hill with a cluster of pines, and woods in the distance. Fields are round it, but the back garden has a good high brick wall, with plenty of fruit trees, and all laid out as a kitchen garden. Thefront piece is in grass, with a dear old elm in the corner. '

I don't like the sound of the box hedge, ' said Agatha thoughtfully; 'itseems so shut in, and very lonely, I should say. '

'Of course we shall not have many passers-by, except the carters to andfrom the farm; but if you are in the country, what can you expect? Wecan cut down the hedge. I like the place myself, and it is in goodrepair, for the owner has only just left it. I must tell you abouthim, for there is quite a story about him. Old Mrs. Tucker was hiscook. He is an eccentric widower, and has a brother with a lot ofproperty in the neighbourhood. He spends his time in carving, painting, and writing about old manuscripts. That is one thing youwill like, Clare; all the doors and cupboards in the house are carvedmost beautifully, even the low window sills, and mantelpieces. Aboutfour months ago he had a dreadful quarrel with his brother, and toldMrs. Tucker that he was going abroad till his temper cooled. He storedall his furniture, and said he would let the house, but only to ayearly tenant, as he might wish to return again. That is thedisadvantage of the house; but I think he will not be in a hurry toreturn. There is an old carved cupboard let into the wall in the roomwhich was his study, and this he has left locked, and wishes any tenantto understand that it is not to be opened. They take the house underthis condition. '

'A Bluebeard's cupboard, ' said Clare delightedly. 'Why, this is mostinteresting. I am longing to take the house now. '

'That is indeed a woman's speech, ' said a voice behind her, and a tallbroad-shouldered man laid his hand gently on her shoulder. 

Clare turned round, with a pretty pink colour in her cheeks. 

'Oh, Hugh, is it you? Come and sit down, and hear about the cottage wemeditate taking. Gwen is our business man, and seems to have foundjust the place we wanted. '

Captain Knox took a seat by his betrothed, and was soon hearing aboutit all. Then after it was discussed afresh, and he agreed that itmight prove suitable, the other girls slipped away to the innerdrawing-room, and left the young couple alone. 

Clare's wistful dreaminess had vanished now, and she was bright andanimated. 

'I believe you girls are rejoicing in your sudden downfall, ' saidCaptain Knox at length; 'I hear no moans now over your lost fortunes. It is the outside world that is pitying you. "Those poor girls, " Ihear on all sides, "after the very marked way in which old Miss Danetold everybody they would be heiresses at her death. It is mostincomprehensible. "'

It is no laughing matter, Hugh, ' said Clare gravely. 'We are going totry and make the best of it; but when we think of James, our bloodboils!'

'Well, darling, you will never know actual want, that is my comfort. How I wish I could offer you a home now! but I have been advised sostrongly to go with this party that I feel I ought not to refuse. Itwill only be a matter of six months, I hope, and then I shall take youaway from your country retreat altogether. '

'I sometimes wish----' Clare stopped. 

'Well, what?'

'I was going to say I wish you were not in the army, but that is wrong. I do so much prefer a settled home to the incessant change in theservice. '

Captain Knox's brows clouded a little, for he was a keen soldier, andwas devoted to his corps, which was the Royal Engineers. 

'But, Clare, I have heard you say before that you do not care for a gaytown life, nor a quiet country one; so what do you like?'

'I don't know what I like, ' she said, laughing; 'generally it is what Ihaven't got. Don't mind my grumblings. I shall be so tired of thecountry, and the dull monotony of it all, by the time you come back, that I shall fly to you with open arms, and entreat you to take me intothe very midst of garrison gaiety. '

Captain Knox smiled, though he still looked perplexed. Clare's moods, and contradictions of humour, were inexplicable to a man of his frank, straightforward nature. Yet she was so sweetly penitent after a fit ofdiscontent, and so delightful in her waywardness, that he only lovedher the more, and found, as so many others do, that woman is a problemthat few masculine brains can solve. 

Whilst the two lovers were enjoying their _tête-à-tête_, Elfie hadcrept upstairs to see Nannie, and a gravity had settled on her usuallysunny face as she entered her nurse's room. 

'Have you come for a chat, Miss Elfie?' inquired the old woman, brightening at the sight of her. 

'Yes, Nannie. I have been thinking over my verse that you gave me. Ican't get it out of my head. It is a very lovely one, but verydifficult to put into practice, I should think. '

'Why, surely, no, my dear! And for you 'tis easier than most. '

'That is because I always say I find it is easy to be happy. But, Nannie, delighting oneself in the Lord is a very different thing. '

'Ay, but the lark that rises with his song, and the flowers that turntheir faces to the sun, or soft refreshing showers, don't find itdifficult to delight themselves in the air and sunshine. I think, MissElfie, you are one of the Lord's dear children, are you not?'

Elfie's face flushed; then sitting down in a low chair, she rested herhead against Nannie's knees. 

'Yes, ' she said softly. 'I told you how different everything had beenwith me when last I was home, Nannie. That German governess was such ahelp to me. But what I feel is this: I enjoy everything in life so; itall seems so bright and sunny to me, that I feel the pleasure I take ineverything may be such a snare. I ought to have my enjoyment in theLord apart from it all. And I sometimes ask myself if I could be happyshut up in a prison cell, away from all I love, and--and I almost thinkI couldn't. Nannie smiled. 

'You are a foolish child. Do you think the Lord loves to put Hischildren in miserable circumstances and keep them there? Your youthand your gladness and your hopes are all gifts from Him. He loves tosee us happy. Doesn't the sun, and the brightness, and all the lovelybits o' nature, come straight from Him? He didn't make London with itssmoke and fog and misery, 'tis us that have done that. '

'But I like London, ' put in Elfie. 'I love the shops and the peopleand the bustle, and at first I didn't like the idea of the country atall, but now I am beginning to. '

'Wherever you may be, Miss Elfie, delight yourself in yoursurroundings, unless they be sinful; but be sure o' this, you candelight yourself in the Lord in the midst of it all, and have no needto separate Him from all your innocent joys. Doesn't your verse say asmuch? Will the Lord take all that is pleasant away from you, if you doHis command? No; "He will give thee the desires of thine heart. " Couldyou want more proof of His love? You may later on in life have anotherlesson to learn, but 'twill come easier then, and you'll be able to saywith Habakkuk, "Although everything else fails, yet I will rejoice inthe Lord. "'

Elfie was silent. Then she got up and kissed her old nurse. 

'You're an old saint; you always do me such a world of good. I thinkyou have given me the best verse of them all, and I will try and makeit my motto. Now I must go. I only ran up to have a peep at you. '

CHAPTER III

A Country Home

 'If thou would'st read a lesson that will keep Thy heart from fainting, and thy soul from sleep, Go to the woods and hills. No tears Dim the sweet look that Nature wears. '--_Longfellow. _

The day had come when the four sisters took their leave of London. Thesale had taken place, as they only took enough furniture for theirsmall house, and Nannie had taken a tender and sad farewell of hercharges. 

'I feel, ' said Gwen, after they had watched her driven away in a cabwith all her little belongings, 'that Nannie does not expect to see anyof us again. She has given us her dying blessing, like Jacob did tohis sons. I wonder if her verses will prove prophetic. '

Captain Knox went with them to the station, to see the last of Clare. He cheered her up by saying he would run down and see them before hewent abroad, and the sisters were all doing their best to be cheerful. They had sent down two young maids the day before to get thingscomfortable, and both Agatha and Gwen had been backwards and forwardsarranging their furniture, so that they did not feel they were goinginto a comfortless house. 

'I always like everything new, ' asserted Elfie. 'I feel quite excitedto see what it will be like. '

'I think it is a dear little place, ' Agatha said. 'I am sure we shallbe happy there. '

But their arrival at Brambleton station was in the midst of steady, driving rain, and a wind that threatened instant destruction to openumbrellas. A fly was found, and they were soon driving along thecountry road, all distant scenery being obliterated by mist and wet. Clare's spirits sank at once. 

'What a dreadful day, and what miserable country!'

'I hope the house won't be damp, ' Agatha said anxiously. 

Then Gwen laughed. 

'Oh, for pity's sake, don't all begin to croak! We do have wet days inLondon. If Jane and Martha have done their work properly, we shallsoon forget the wet when we are inside. '

Slowly the fly lumbered along, and darkness had set in when they atlast reached their new home. 

Mrs. Tucker, who was keeping the maids company, came bustling to thedoor, and when they saw the cheerful little dining-room with itsblazing fire and well-spread table for their evening meal, the wind andwet outside were forgotten. 

Elfie ran in and out of the rooms, delighted with the quaintness of itall, and Clare grew quite enthusiastic over the carved wood decorations. 

'He must be an artist, ' she exclaimed. 'How could he go off and leaveit all to strangers?'

The rooms, though lacking as yet in all the details of comfort, werequite habitable, and the late dinner was a merry meal. 

'We shall be a community of women, with no opportunities of gettingaway from one another occasionally; that is what I object to, ' saidClare, leaning back in her chair, and looking at her sisters rathermeditatively. 'If we quarrel, it will be dreadful, and I am perfectlycertain we shall never agree on every point. '

'_You_ will not on _any_ point, ' said Gwen, a little drily. 

'We have the country round us, ' put in Elfie, 'and there must be somepeople to know; it is only just at first we shall be shut up toourselves, I expect. '

'As to the people, there will be the villagers, of course, ' said Gwenbriskly; 'but we needn't count upon many friends in our own class oflife. The big houses round here won't be desirous of the acquaintanceof four unknown females with a very small income. '

'I always thought, ' said Elfie, 'that country villages contained aclergyman and family, a doctor, and a squire. Isn't that the casehere?'

'No; this is a kind of suburb of Brambleton. There is a vicarage, butI don't know anything about the clergyman. '

'Well, I hope we shan't all die of the dumps, ' said Clare, shiveringslightly, as a fresh blast of wind howled and shrieked in the oldchimney. 

'Oh, that dreadful wind, how I hate it! It seems like a bad omen tohave such a welcome when we get here. '

'Rubbish! Go to bed, if you don't like it, and put your head under theclothes. Of course we notice the wind more in the country because ofthe trees. '

Clare did not get much sympathy from her sisters, and she soon leftthem and went up to her bedroom. There was a bright fire burning, andsome of her own pretty things were already being unpacked by the busyJane, who was perhaps more attached to her than to any of the others. 

'Captain Knox thinks her the best of the bunch, ' said she in confidenceto Martha, when on the subject of 'our young ladies, ' 'and so doI--Miss Agatha is rather commonplace, to my mind, though she is a goodmistress, and Miss Gwendoline is always catching up one and takingone's breath away. Miss Elfrida is very pleasant, but she's always thesame. Now Miss Clare's never two days alike; she's that gentle andappealin' sometimes, that she makes me love her, and then she's milesaway in the clouds, and very cross, and then her spirits get so highthat she's ready for any mischief--and there's no knowin' how to takeher. '

'Isn't the wind dreadful, Jane?' said Clare presently. 'We couldn'thave had a more dreary and depressing day for coming here. '

'It's terrible lonely, miss. How you young ladies will put up with itis more than Martha and me can imagine! My home is in the country, soI don't mind it. I never could abear London with its fog and dirt. Mrs. Tucker has been telling me and Martha queer tales about thegentleman who lived here. '

Clare wrapped herself in her dressing-gown and sat down by the fire. She rarely checked Jane's flow of talk, and perhaps that was why themaid liked her. 

'What kind of tales?'

'Mrs. Tucker says he ought to have the property here called The Park, for he is the eldest son, and his younger brother, Major Lester, hastaken it all, for Mr. Tom Lester offended his father by marrying aforeign lady, and he struck him out of his will. Mrs. Tucker says shebelieves the quarrel last autumn was about Major Lester's son, who ismissing somewhere abroad, and who Mr. Tom Lester hates. And did youhear about the cupboard downstairs? Mrs. Tucker says she never hasbeen inside it herself, for Mr. Lester only used to open it late atnight, and he's gone away and taken the key with him, and says it isn'tto be touched. I says to Mrs. Tucker that there might be anything inthe cupboard, and Martha says she's afraid to go near it, for you dohear such dreadful tales about locked cupboards, and skeletons insidethem, don't you, miss?'

'Only in your penny novelettes, that do you more harm than good, Jane!'said Clare a little shortly. I think if Mrs. Tucker is such a gossip, we shan't care to have her about the house. Where does she live now?'

'She's going to stay with her married sister in Brambleton, miss, andshe's going out cooking if she can. I says to Martha that her tonguerunned away with her, we could hardly get in a word, she talks so; butshe's a very good-natured person, and has given Martha and me a lot ofinformation about the neighbourhood. '

Clare did not respond, but soon dismissed Jane, and then sat for sometime in dreams before her fire. At last with a little sigh she tookhold of her Bible, to have her usual evening reading out of it. Sheturned to Nannie's Psalm, and listlessly scanned the verse that hadbeen given her. 

'Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him. '

'Rest!' she mused; 'it is the one thing I never have reallyexperienced. I always seem to be wishing for, and wanting, what nevercomes to me. I don't suppose any but a very old person who has livedher life, and has no hopes left, can rest and wait patiently. I don'tknow why I always seem waiting for something big to come and satisfy mylife. I remember when first Hugh spoke to me, and we were engaged, Ihoped I should be perfectly satisfied and happy, but in some ways hehas disappointed me. He is so--so humdrum and easily pleased, andwrapped up in his profession. I wish he were more intellectual. I dolove him, of course I do, but he hasn't filled my life as I thought hewould. He doesn't understand some of my thoughts about things. Ioften wonder why I can't be as easily pleased with everybody andeverything as Elfie is. Nannie would say it is because my religion isnot real. I don't feel I could rest in the Lord. He seems far away, and there are so many difficulties, and sometimes I get to doubteverything! I wish I had Nannie's faith. '

She sighed again, and her thoughts came back to her presentsurroundings. 

'I never shall like it here, I am sure; only it is no good to say so. It is such a depressing house, with not a sound outside, except thishowling wind. I think it was a very doubtful venture coming down to aplace where we know no one. Perhaps in the summer it will be better. I will try and not be discontented, but I feel to-night as if evil iscoming upon us, and this awful wind seems to moan like a human being inthe chimney. I think I will get into bed, and follow Gwen's advice. Oh dear, I wish I wasn't so easily depressed!'

But a sound night's rest made impressionable Clare view things ratherdifferently the next day. The rain and wind had disappeared, and asshe looked out of her window the first thing, she saw a cloudless bluesky, and the green meadows and pine woods in the distance, all lying instill bright sunshine. She opened her casement, and the fresh springair fanned her cheeks, and brought her scents of the sweet countryround her. She came downstairs to breakfast radiant; not even Elfie'ssunny face could eclipse hers. 

'It's delicious!' she exclaimed; 'I am longing to explore the garden. Is it as well stocked with fruit and vegetables as the advertisementled us to expect?'

'Yes, I think it is, ' said Gwen; 'but of course everything has beenvery neglected. Mrs. Tucker assures me a nephew of hers always workedfor Mr. Lester, and would be glad to come to us for the same wages. What do you think, Agatha? Can we afford eight shillings a week?'

Agatha looked a little worried. 

'Oh, there is plenty of time to think of the garden later on. There isso much to do in the house. I hope you will all help in the unpackingto-day, or we shall never get straight. '

'Household cares already beginning!' said Elfie, laughing. 'Now I votewe all take a holiday this lovely day, and explore our surroundings;there's time enough to put the house straight later on. '

'Agatha will be miserable till every pin finds its place, ' said Gwen. 'I promise that I'll work like a horse all this morning, but thisafternoon I will have for pleasure. '

And this was how they finally settled it; and all four spent theirmorning in putting up curtains, hanging pictures, superintending thecarpets and rugs being laid down, and sorting out and distributing thelinen, plate, and china as it was needed. 

Clare and Elfie sang as they worked, Gwen directed, scolded, and jokedin turn, and Agatha was the only one who seemed to feel it a grave andsolemn responsibility. 

But they sat down to their luncheon with light hearts. 

'We only want to fill the house with flowers to make it look reallycomfortable, ' said Clare, 'and I mean to go and look for some thisafternoon. '

Agatha could not be persuaded to leave the house. Housekeeping was herforte, and she declared she would never sit down in comfort, till herstore and linen cupboards were in perfect order. 

The three others wandered first through the garden, and Gwen declaredher intention of taking the whole of it under her superintendence. 

'You don't know a thing about it, ' said Elfie, saucily. 

'Then I can learn. We are not going to live in the lap of luxury here, as you will soon discover. Our two maids will be rather different toour staff of servants in London. '

'Well, I tell you what I will do, ' said Elfie: 'I'll help Martha withthe cooking; I did a lot in Germany. I'll send you in the mostdelicious tea-cakes and biscuits for afternoon tea, and I'll teach herhow to cook her vegetables after the German fashion!'

'Defend us from German grease, and odious mixtures of sweet and sour!'exclaimed Clare. 'Make us the tea-cakes, but leave the vegetablesalone. Now take us down the village, Gwen, and let us see the church. '

They left the garden, and picked their way down the muddy lane untilthey reached the village street. Clare and Elfie were delighted withall they saw, especially with the old church. It had a typical countrychurchyard, with a large yew tree inside the old lych gate. The doorwas open, so they went in, and, though plain and rather bare inappearance, it possessed a beautiful stained window at the east end, several old tombs, and a handsome-looking organ. Elfie pressed forwardeagerly to look at the latter, and found to her delight that it wasopen. Music was her passion, and she was almost as skilful at theorgan as at her piano or with her violin. 

'I must try it, ' she whispered; 'do blow for me, one of you!'

Gwen complied with her request immediately, and strains of Mendelssohnand Handel were soon filling the church. Clare was wandering dreamilyround listening and enjoying it, when suddenly a harsh voice behind herstartled her. 

'And may I ask who has given you permission to touch the organ?'

'I am not touching it, ' Clare responded, coolly, gazing in astonishmentat the apparition before her. 

An old lady with a cap awry on her head, green spectacles, and a largeshawl flung round her, stood tapping the ground impatiently with awalking-stick. 

'I don't wish to meet with impertinence; your party are taking anunwarrantable liberty. I wish, if my brother persists in keeping thechurch doors open, that he would keep a chained bulldog inside!Nothing else will keep you tourists in your place. And here am Iwithout a bonnet, defying St. Paul's command, and getting a freshattack of rheumatism, and perhaps palpitation of the heart, by my hasteand exposure! Will you have the goodness to tell your friends to leavethat organ alone?'

Elfie, hearing voices, now turned round and left her seat at once. 

Clare was not trying to soothe the old lady, but rather seemed to enjoyher irascibility. 

'No, madam, we are not tourists. Are you the verger's wife? You mustexcuse my ignorance, but we are strangers in this part. Perhaps youcan tell us a little about the church; it seems a very old one. Howmany years has it been standing?'

For answer the old lady raised her stick and tapped her slightly on theshoulder with it. 

'Leave the church, young woman, and don't try to make me violent in thehouse of God!'

They were in the porch by this time, and Elfie and Gwen joined them. Elfie at once tried to make peace. 

'I am very sorry, ' she said contritely. 'I am so fond of the organthat I could not resist trying it. Please forgive me; I will not do itagain unless I have permission. '

She smiled so sweetly as she spoke that the old lady seemed a littlesoftened. 

'You will never get my permission, ' was all she said; and then shehobbled away like some malignant fairy, disappearing through a littlewicket gate at the end of the churchyard, and making Gwen exclaim, 'Shemust be the clergyman's mother or aunt. Well, we have had a pleasantintroduction! What will Agatha say?'

CHAPTER IV

Bluebeard's Cupboard

'O most lame and impotent conclusion!'--_Shakespeare_. 

Agatha was naturally very vexed when she heard from her sisters whathad happened. She was sometimes laughed at by her friends for herdevotion to the clergy, and all her hopes of doing good were centred inthe country church and its organizations. 

'It is most unfortunate, ' she said; 'I was hoping that perhaps some ofthem might call before Sunday, but really after such an encounter theymay totally ignore us. It was not right to do such a thing, Elfie, without permission. I can't think how Gwen could have allowed it. '

'Well, really, I am not up in propriety and etiquette in such matters, 'was Gwen's rather impatient response. 'We are not in town now, thankgoodness! In the country you are supposed to have a little freedom. If they don't wish people to try the organ, they should not leave itopen, or they should chain a bulldog to the organ stool. Wasn't thather suggestion, Clare? My dear Agatha, don't fuss yourself. This oldwoman must be quite a character, and would abuse anybody, I feelcertain. We didn't tell her who we were, so if she comes to call onyou, we will keep out of the way. She seemed half blind, so I don'texpect she would recognise us again. '

'Jane says she lives alone with her brother, who is unmarried, ' saidClare, 'and she is quite a Tartar in the village, though she is verygood in relieving the villagers' wants. '

'What does Jane know about it?'

'Oh, she gets her gossip from Mrs. Tucker, who also told her that MissMiller sees better through her green glasses than most people dowithout any glasses at all!'

'Mrs. Tucker talks a lot of rubbish, I expect, ' said Gwen, ratherloftily; then, changing the conversation, she said, 'I am going tounpack my books now. Who will come and help me? I am longing to fillup those empty bookshelves in Mr. Lester's study. What a good thing heleft them as fixtures!'

'I will help you, if you like, ' said Clare. 'Are you going to takesole possession of that study, may I ask?'

Gwen looked across at her rather queerly. 

'Not if you dispute it, ' she said, with a little laugh. 'Agatha is inlove with the drawing-room. She has already arranged a corner forherself there; her writing-table in the west window, her work-basketand books in the corner by it, and her pet canary is now singinghimself hoarse at the view he has from the window. '

'Yes, ' Agatha replied, 'it is an ideal old maid's corner, and that iswhere you will always find me, when my housekeeping duties are notkeeping me away. '

'I wish we could have a sitting-room each, ' said Clare; 'we get so ineach other's way. '

'You can share the study with me when you want to be quiet, ' said Gwen. 'I won't have you there if you talk!'

'You're quite the owner of it already, then? And what are you going todo, Elfie?'

'Oh, I shall be everywhere. Agatha never minds my music. I shall bepractising a good deal, and if I'm voted a bore, I shall take my violinup to the bedroom. You and Gwen are the blue stockings, so the studywill be given over to you. '

This seemed satisfactory. Gwen was a great reader, and possessedalready a most valuable library. She wrote essays for some periodicaloccasionally, but would never bind herself to any steady contributions, and she was never so happy as when deeply engrossed in some ancienthistories of Egypt or Nineveh. The buried past had a fascination forher, and perhaps she of all the others had most reason for regrettingthe departure from London, for her constant visits to the reading-roomat the British Museum had been a keen delight and pleasure to her. When quite a schoolgirl she used to say, with that masterful toss ofher head, 'I am quite determined that I will understand and masterevery "ology" under the sun!'

And Gwen and her 'ologies' had been a perpetual joke in her family eversince. She had dabbled in a good many sciences--geology, astronomy, architecture, physiology, botany, natural history, and archaeology allhad their turn, and she certainly seemed to get a good deal of interestand amusement out of them all. She announced to Clare, as a littlelater they were seated on the study floor surrounded by pyramids ofbooks, that she intended to give her thoughts now to gardening andagriculture. 

'I have some delightful old books on horticulture, which I shall readup, ' she said enthusiastically; 'and there is an old Dutch writeramongst them who gives the most minute directions for laying out aflower and vegetable garden. I have told Agatha I shall take thegarden into my charge. I am certain I shall succeed with it. '

'Do you ever doubt your capability for doing anything?'

Clare put the question gravely. 

'No, I don't think I do, except teach a Sunday school class!' saidGwen, laughing. 

'I sometimes feel I am incapable of living even, ' said Clare dreamily. 

Gwen stared at her. These two understood each other better than onewould have thought possible with such opposite characteristics. Clareadmired Gwen's intellect, and there were times when Gwen knew thatClare had depths of which she knew nothing. Reason and practicalcommon sense had full sway in the one, imagination and mysticism in theother, and none of these qualities were tempered with real religion. 

'You must be in the blues!' exclaimed Gwen, with a laugh. 

'No, ' said Clare, looking up, 'I am not, at all. I am longing to be upand doing, and leave some mark behind me as I go. Is that Browning youhave in your hand? Just let me look up a passage!' Gwen laughed againas she handed across the book. 

'No hope for any more help from you, if you once get hold of him!'

And for an hour Clare sat amongst the piles of books with her fair headresting against the carved cupboard, and not a word or sign could Gwenget out of her. 

Elfie spent her time in helping Agatha to unpack, and it was a verytired little party that gathered round the drawing-room fire thatevening. 

'I wonder, ' said Clare, 'if we shall find we have made a mistake incoming here. It seems so very quiet, and different to either London orDane Hall. When we used to stay there with Aunt Mildred, there wasalways such a lot going on that it didn't seem quite like the country. '

'My dear Clare, ' said Agatha quietly, 'you would be much happieryourself, and would make others happier too, if you always made thebest of your circumstances. I remember you used to complain at DaneHall of the frivolity and empty-headedness of aunt's visitors, andwould say it was a mere waste of life to live as we did!'

'Oh, don't be so prosy, Agatha!' Clare returned impatiently. 'If youwere dropped into a workhouse ward, you would look round and remark howcomfortable you were, and how at last you had found your vocation!'

Elfie laughed aloud at this, but Agatha leant back in her chair andlooked into the glowing coals in front of her with a smile that showedshe was not destitute of humour. 'I daresay I might, ' she said. 'Ialways love a community of old women, and if I could have chats withthem, I am sure I should enjoy myself. '

'Well, I only wish I could be so easily contented, ' said Clare, in atone that showed she would be very sorry for herself if she were. Shesoon went off to bed, and Elfie followed, and then the two elder onesdrew their chairs together and had a confidential talk over ways andmeans. 

Agatha, though apparently apathetic at times and of a yieldingdisposition, had not always been so. When she first came home fromschool, she had all the bright hopes and restless longings of a younggirl, and her aunt did all in her power to make life pleasant andbright for her. She went out into society, and was a generalfavourite, owing to her sweet temper and extreme unselfishness. Thenone came on the scene who attracted her heart from the first. He wasan earnest, whole-hearted Christian man, a vicar of an East End parish, and it was his influence that made Agatha view life in a differentlight. She vexed her aunt at first by gradually withdrawing fromgaieties, and it was only with great difficulty that she was givenpermission to visit in the slums. The vicar was soon her betrothed, and Agatha had a few months of perpetual sunshine. But hard work, anda not very strong constitution, soon brought about a seriousbreak-down, and he was ordered to the south of France to recruit hishealth. The parting was a sad one, and Agatha had wild thoughts ofmarrying then and there, and going with him as his wife and nurse. Butthis Miss Dane strenuously opposed, and poor Agatha had to bear thestrain of five months away from the one who needed her so badly. Hedied, and for a time she was broken-hearted; but gradually she came toprove the reality and comfort of her religion, and then, taking up theinterests of those around her, she had cheerfully buried her ownsorrow, and became the mainstay of her aunt and her household. PerhapsAgatha felt most keenly being shut out from her aunt's dying room, shecertainly uttered with heartfelt fervour morning and evening, 'Forgiveus our trespasses, as we forgive those that trespass against us. '

And she had never trusted herself to mention her cousin's unjustdealing to anyone; even her sisters had little idea how deep herfeelings were about it. 

The next few days were very busy ones. Saturday brought Captain Knox, to stay with them till Monday, and Clare showed him over house andgarden in the best of spirits. 'It is rather strange, ' he said, as hesat at dinner with them that night, 'but one of my sisters knows a ladyin this neighbourhood, and she thinks you will like her. She livessomewhere on the outskirts of Brambleton. A Miss Villars. She is acharming woman, I hear, very comfortably off, but rather eccentric inthe way she spends her money. My sister wrote to her when she knew ofyour arrival here, so you may have a visit from her soon. '

'Is she an old maid?' asked Elfie; 'because we have seen one, and, Iwas going to say, don't want to see another. '

Clare related their adventure in the church, and Captain Knox was muchamused. 

'I do not think there is anything queer about Miss Villars, except thatshe is a very religious woman. '

'Is that queer?' questioned Clare, a little wistfully. 

'No, ' Agatha said very quietly; 'it ought not to be. '

'But it is in the sight of the world, ' retorted Captain Knox; 'that is, if your religion in an aggressive one. '

'Well, of course it ought not to be aggressive, ' said Gwen briskly. 'Religion is a matter to be lived, not talked about. It only concernsoneself, and no one else. '

'That is a very selfish creed, ' said Agatha. 'If you possess somethinggood, you ought to wish to pass it on. '

'But not to thrust it on people who don't want it. I am thirsty, andlike a glass of water, but need I insist upon your drinking it, whenyou are not thirsty at all?'

'Gwen loves an argument, ' said Captain Knox good-naturedly. 

'I am not good at arguing, ' said Agatha, 'only, knowing that thirst canbe a blessing, I think we should try to make people thirsty. '

'How do you mean?' asked Clare with interest, 'thirst is not, generally, a very happy experience. '

'Doesn't it say, "Blessed are they who hunger and thirst afterrighteousness, for they shall be filled"?'

'Oh, come, Agatha, we don't want a sermon with our dinner. You are notgiven to preach, so don't be trying to show us that you know how to beaggressive. '

Gwen's tone was a little scornful, and Agatha said no more; but asClare was pacing up and down in the verandah with Captain Knox, alittle time after, she suddenly said, 'I think I am a thirsty person, Hugh, only I never can tell what it is I am thirsting for; tell me, areyou perfectly satisfied with yourself and with life?'

Captain Knox looked down at the sweet, pensive face of his betrothed. 'I shall be, Clare--on our wedding day. '

Clare frowned. 'You never will be in earnest about anything; youalways turn my thoughts into ridicule. '

'Indeed I do not. But I am a plain, matter-of-fact soldier, and liveon earth; you are in dreamland half your time, or in the clouds. Clare, darling, I cannot bear the thoughts of Africa sometimes; howshall I be able to stand being away from you so long? And time isslipping away so fast; only a fortnight more before I am off. '

'You will come down again before you start, of course?'

'Oh yes, I certainly intend to do so; but I have a lot to do intown--it may be only the last day that you will see me. '

Clare sighed, but said nothing, and then Captain Knox said suddenly, --

'Is Agatha very religious, Clare?

'No, I don't think so--not particularly. She is fond of church and allthat, but she doesn't often speak out as she did at dinner to-night. Now, don't let us be gloomy; come indoors, and I will show youBluebeard's cupboard in the study, It is well worth looking at, for itis beautifully carved, and I am going to try and copy it. You know howI love carving. '

She took him to the study, and there, by the aid of a lamp, theyexamined the old oak cupboard in the deep recess at the side of thefireplace. 

'The strange thing is that there seems to be no lock or opening at allto it, ' said Clare. 'I have spent hours in trying to find out where itis opened. Do you think one day I shall touch a spring, the doors willfly open, and there we shall see his headless wives?'

She was laughing now, and full of animation. Captain Knox passed hisfingers lightly across the carving. 

'I expect one of these carved bits is movable, ' he said. 'It is ahandsome bit of handicraft. What is this along the bottom, a scrollwith writing?'

'That is what I say it is; Gwen says not, but I am sure thosehieroglyphics mean something. '

It looks like Arabic characters, ' said Captain Knox with interest. 'Ibelieve it is so. Here, stop a minute; let me copy these in mynotebook. I shall be studying Arabic on my way out, and if I find Ican translate this, I will let you know. '

'Perhaps it is a clue to the mystery, ' said Clare, with shining eyes;'I am dying to know what this cupboard contains. Mrs. Tucker said shenever saw it opened the whole time she was here; but Mr. Lester toldher once that he prized this cupboard more than anything else in thehouse. She thinks, foolish woman, that it is full of gold! I onlyhope she won't spread that notion about Brambleton. The next thingwill be that we shall have thieves in the house, and perhaps be allmurdered in our beds!' Captain Knox laughed at her fears, and soonafter, they joined the others in the drawing-room. 

CHAPTER V

A Quiet Sunday

 'O day most calm, most bright, The fruit of this, the next world's bud. * * * * The week were dark, but for thy light, Thy torch doth show the way. '--_G. Herbert. _

The sisters, accompanied by Captain Knox, made quite a sensation in thelittle village church when they entered it on that Sunday morning. Theold sexton fussed about as if all the seats were occupied; buteventually they were shown into one just beside the pulpit stairs. Miss Miller glared at them through her green spectacles, and Elfie feltmiserably conscious that she had recognised them. There were a fewother gentle-people in the church besides themselves, and a very fairsprinkling of farmers and villagers. The service was simple andhearty; the village schoolmaster played the organ, and Mr. Miller, afine-looking, grey-headed man, delighted Agatha at least, by hisearnest, faithful preaching. Coming out into the churchyard, Agathawas stopped by Miss Miller hastening up to her. She was dressed inblack silk; but her bonnet, a wonderful erection of lace and ribbon, was quite awry, and she seemed agitated. She spoke jerkily, and Agathahad difficulty in preserving her usual equanimity of mind. 

'Excuse me, but I believe you have taken Mr. Tom Lester's house--a mostunsatisfactory parishioner he is, and not at all what he should be. Iam hoping to call on you this week. Who is the gentleman? yourbrother? No? A great pity, then, for a houseful of women is only ahot-bed for scandal and gossip. We have too many women by far in thisneighbourhood--a bachelor parson always draws them. Have you anyacquaintances in the neighbourhood? Ah, so much the better. There isservice at half-past six this evening; I hope you will be regularattendants. You live in a godless house; take care that the atmospheredoes not affect you. Mr. Tom Lester never entered the House of Godafter I spoke to him about the irreverence of his yawns during thesermon! Good-bye, and I hope you will prove pleasant neighbours. Thatremains to be seen!'

She darted away as quickly as she came; and Elfie, who was walking withAgatha, gave one of her merry, rippling laughs. 

'Isn't she an odd character? We shall have a good deal of fun out ofher, I am sure! I am thankful she did not recognise me, or at leasthad the good taste not to appear as if she did. '

'I wonder, ' said Agatha thoughtfully, 'if that old man who sat behindMiss Miller was our landlord's brother. '

'Oh, he was much too nice-looking; I imagine the other Mr. Lester is anawful old curmudgeon. He has got his property unjustly, Iconsider--the eldest son ought to have it. '

'Cousin James is not an old curmudgeon, ' put in Gwen, stepping back tojoin in the conversation; 'supplanters and usurpers generally carry allthe world before them, "like green bay trees, " as the Psalmist says. Iam sure our Jacob is most prepossessing in manner and appearance, likehis namesake. History repeats itself!'

'Don't be bitter after church, ' said Agatha, in her quiet voice. 

Gwen laughed. 'I'm not bitter. I feel I can snap my fingers at himnow! Hugh says he saw him in town the other day, and he said with hispleasant smile, "When we are quite settled at Dane Hall my wife willask the girls down. They will be glad of the change, I expect, aftertheir seclusion in the country!" Wasn't it truly kind and considerateof him?'

That first Sunday in the country was a very pleasant one to thesisters, Clare went off for a long walk with Hugh in the afternoon;Agatha settled herself in a wicker chair with her books in the sunnyverandah overlooking the meadows and distant pine woods; and Gwen andElfie wandered off across the fields, enjoying the sweet spring air, and noting all the spring flowers peeping out of the hedgerows. 

'Yes, I'm thankful we are out of town, ' said Gwen emphatically, standing up and drawing in long breaths of content and satisfaction. 'If I were starving, I would rather be in the country, because one canbe clean. It's the oppression in the atmosphere that is so sickeningin London, and never being able to get away from people!'

'This is an ideal Sunday, ' said Elfie, turning her radiant face upwardsand watching a lark soaring out of sight; 'I don't think I shall missthe concerts in town, with such music as this around one!'

Then after a pause she said, 'I suppose becoming lazy andself-indulgent is a danger in the country. '

'We are not rich enough for that, ' responded Gwen with a short laugh;'at least, I know I have my work cut out for me. '

'I wasn't meaning actual daily duties, but our responsibilitiesregarding others, ' said Elfie, a little shyly. 

Gwen shrugged her shoulders. 'I suppose you feel you ought to be inSunday school this afternoon, is that it? I dare say Miss Miller willgive you some parish work, if you ask her. Are you going to follow inAgatha's steps? I saw her from my bedroom window this morning stop acarter going by from the farm, and hand him some tracts. '

Elfie laughed. 'She's a good old thing; she never says anything abouther good deeds, but I know she will soon be fast friends with all thefarm labourers who pass up and down. You see if next week she doesn'tknow all their names and family histories!'

They were crossing a fresh meadow now, and as they came up to a stile, they saw in the next field a most picturesque little cottage standingin the midst of a mass of apple blossom. It was a low white-washedbuilding, with thatched roof and latticed windows, green shuttersopening back upon the wall. 

The girls went up, and leaning against the gate, looked at itadmiringly; then started at the sight of two oldish women sittingopposite one another in the old-fashioned porch. They were dressedexactly alike, two lilac sun-bonnets hiding their faces; their figureswere thin and angular, and each had a book in her lap. Their dark-blueserge gowns, white aprons, and little red worsted shawls over theirshoulders, were duplicates one of the other. 

'It's like a book, ' whispered Elfie. 'Do let us speak to them. We canask them where the footpath leads to!'

Gwen opened the gate, and accordingly put the question. 

Both women started to their feet, and one came forward. 

'Where does this footpath lead to? Why, to our cottage, and nofurther, miss. '

She spoke respectfully, though rather shortly. 

'I am afraid we have trespassed, ' said Elfie, in her sweet, brighttone; 'but we are strangers here, and are trying to find our way about. What a lovely little cottage you have!'

'It's a tidy little place, ' the woman responded, with an approving nod. 'Perhaps you'd like to come in and sit for a bit. Patty and me don'tcare for Sunday visitin', but you'll be the ladies from JasmineCottage, I reckon?'

'Yes, ' said Gwen, 'we will come in for a minute before we go back. '

They followed her into a spotlessly clean and tidy kitchen. Patty drewforward two chairs, and began to speak rather breathlessly. 'My sisterand me saw you in church to-day. We said you were the new family; andDeb is very good at upholsterin' and alterin' carpets, and doin' plainneedlework, and we thought maybe you'd be wantin' help that way, forDeb goes to work by the day at most of the big houses round!'

'Tis the Lord's Day, ' said Deb, giving her sister a sharp nudge withher elbow; 'we'll not be talking business now. Sit down, ladies. '

Gwen and Elfie exchanged amused glances. Then Gwen said, --

'Well, we won't transact business now; but we want a workwoman badly, and if you will come to the cottage tomorrow my sister will show youany amount of carpets that need refitting. But if I had a cottage likethis, away from all sound and sight of any human beings, I think Iwouldn't trouble to go out carpet-making!'

'You would if you wanted to keep your cottage, ' said Deb brusquely. Then, taking off her sun-bonnet and smoothing down her grey hair, shesat down on an old oak settle beside the little cheery blazing fire, and grasping her angular knees with each hand, she looked at Given alittle defiantly. 

'Eight and forty year come next Christmas have Patty and I livedtogether here, and never a year have we been behind our rent sincefather died; but it have been done by downright hard labour. And ifyou and your people want new-laid eggs, or fresh spring chickens, orhoney from the comb, why, 'tis Patty that will supply you, as also milkand butter from an Alderney cow. '

''Tis Sunday!' ejaculated Patty, as she stood by the fire with armsakimbo; and at this retort Gwen and Elfie laughed outright. 

'And do you ever go away from home?' asked Gwen curiously, after aslight pause, in which Deb looked very discomposed. 

'We are continually away, ' said Deb, looking up and speaking veryshortly. 'I know every gentry's house in the neighbourhood, not tospeak of Brambleton, where Patty goes reg'lar once a week to market. But as to sleepin' away, that we never mean to do till we be taken toour last restin'-place!'

'And are you great readers? I am afraid we disturbed you from yourbooks when we came in. '

Patty took up her book, which was on the window-ledge. ''Tis Bunyan'sbook, _The Pilgrim's Progress_. Father give Deb and me a copy eachwhen we were fifteen years old, and we have read it every Sundayafternoon since. We don't always get very far, for 'tis a sleepy timein the afternoon, but a page or two is always edifyin' and improvin' tothe soul!'

'It's a lovely book!' said Elfie enthusiastically; 'you must know itnearly by heart. '

The sisters smiled at each other. 

'We do that, ' said Deb. 

'I suppose you have visitors from the village here occasionally?' askedGwen. 

Deb frowned grimly, then looked her questioner straight in the face, with hard-set lines about her mouth, as she replied, --

'We keeps ourselves to ourselves, miss. You are both young ladies, andhaven't lived long enough to have it cast up in your teeth that you'renot wed; but there be those who scorn us for choosin' to keep by eachother, and not do as most young maids do. Patty and me have had ourchances, but Patty's lad couldn't take us both, and 'twas the same withmy lad, and neither of us could bear to be away from the other. We'vealways grown together, Patty and me--we came into the world together, and we pray the Lord He'll take us out in the same manner; and we knoweach other's ways, and when we don't agree, there's no one else tointerfere. '

'Do you ever disagree?' asked Elfie, smiling. 

Patty nodded her head solemnly. 

'Ay, we ain't quite the same make through and through, ' she said, inher little breathless way, 'and words run high at times. I keep to myopinions, and Deb keeps to hers; and if we have an extra hard disputeon, we know how to settle it!'

'How? with fists?' asked Gwen, looking from one hard-featured woman tothe other with the greatest interest. 

Deb looked up grimly, and said, as she raised her hand in emphasis, --

'Patty have never had a blow from me since we were children, nor I fromher. When our tongues run away with us, one locks the t'other out, andwhen we get cool again the door is opened!'

'I would rather be inside than outside on a winter's day, ' said Gwen, laughing heartily. 'Now come, Elfie, we must be off. I shall pay youanother visit before long, to learn about bee-keeping. I see yourhives are just like ours, and we know nothing about such things!'

'And I'll be very glad to tell you, ' said Patty eagerly, 'for I'vetended bees since I were a child, and know all their tricks, and as totheir swarmings. '

''Tis the Lord's Day, ' put in Deb grimly, and Gwen and Elfie promptlytook their leave. 

'Aren't they old dears?' said Elfie enthusiastically; 'they seem tolive in quite another world. Imagine reading _The Pilgrim's Progress_all your life, and no other book beside the Bible! Do they ever see anewspaper, I wonder?'

'It isn't often one meets such a couple; we shall get a good deal ofentertainment out of them, I expect. What an awful existence! Is itwhat we shall come to years hence, I wonder? And yet I, for one, amquite certain that will not be my lot. '

'What?' inquired Elfie, 'the old maid's existence, do you mean, or thelittle secluded country cottage?'

'Neither. I have my plans and purposes; and not all Jacob'smachinations and schemings will frustrate them. '

'What are they?' inquired Elfie. 

'Ah, well, I had best not say. I mean to see you all thoroughlycomfortable and settled here, and then break them to you. I haveplenty of resources and interests to take up my time, so am in nohurry. '

'You always were a wonderful one for plans! Let me guess. You aregoing to start a magazine, and be the editor of it!'

'No, thank you. Magazines are as plentiful as pins just now; theyappear and disappear like sky-rockets!'

'Is it a way of earning money?'

'No, of spending it; but I am not going to tell you. I generally findI can carry out my plans successfully, if I don't take too many peopleinto my confidence!'

Elfie was silent for a few minutes; then she said, with a little sigh, 'I wonder how old Nannie is getting on?'

'What has put her into your head?'

'The verses she gave us. Don't you remember?'

'I'm sure I forget what mine was. '

'"Commit thy way unto the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bringit to pass, "' said Elfie softly. 

'Nannie never could stand my independence. I believe she thought weought not to have taken this cottage without first having prayer aboutit!'

'Agatha did pray about it, ' said Elfie very quietly. 

'Well, I didn't, and I was the one to find it, and it has turned outquite a success. I never can understand such narrow views of life asAgatha takes. Prayer is all very well in church, or in great crises, but in everyday life I think it is perfectly unnatural and unnecessary!'

Elfie did not answer. She felt too inexperienced to argue the matterout with Gwen, though she totally disagreed with her. 

They reached home, and found Clare and Captain Knox before them. Afternoon tea was had in the drawing-room, and afterwards, beforeevening church, Elfie brought her violin out, and Agatha went to thepiano, whilst the others gathered round and sang some hymns with them. The evening closed quietly and peacefully; and as Captain Knox saidgood-night to his betrothed, he added, 'I am so glad I have seen youall here. I shall picture your quiet Sundays when I am in the wilds ofAfrica, and it will do me good!'

CHAPTER VI

A Departure

 'The heart which like a staff was one For mine to lean and rest upon, The strongest on the longest day, With steadfast love, is caught away, And yet my days go on, go on. '--_E. B. Browning. _

Miss Miller came to call with her brother a few days afterwards. Agatha and Elfie were busy putting some finishing touches to thedrawing-room when they arrived. 

Miss Miller looked round the room, when she was seated, with someinterest; and then she said abruptly, --

'Too much furniture, and too many useless ornaments, my dears. Adrawing-room ought to be for use, and not for show. Who arranges yourflowers?'

She might well ask, for none but an artist's hand could have groupedtogether so harmoniously the daffodils and primroses, with trails ofivy and fern in their beds of moss. 

'Clare does, ' responded Elfie brightly, sitting down by her side, whilst Agatha turned to the vicar. 'She went out this morning andpicked them in a wood close to us. Aren't they lovely?'

'Not Major Lester's wood, I hope. He will not be best pleased to haveany one from this house trespassing in his places. Miss Dane, do youknow the history of your house?'

Agatha looked up, a little startled at the sharp voice. 'I did notknow it had any history, ' she said. 

'It is best you should know facts. No, Wilfrid, you need not stop me;they will hear our village gossip fast enough. To begin with--yourhouse used to be the old vicarage. It was built on the site of an oldmonastery. Our church is four hundred years old. The monastery cameto grief long before the church. When old Squire Lester died, most ofus thought the Hall would go to Mr. Tom. He had always been erraticand restless, spending most of his time abroad, and the squire neverforgave his marriage with a French artist's daughter. He disinheritedhim, and made his second son leave the army and come home. A couple ofyears after, Mr. Tom returned, having lost his wife, and bringing alittle son with him, a boy of four years. The old squire seemed torelent a little then, and was always having the child at the house. Mr. Tom, as we call him here, settled in this house, and was onfriendly terms with his father till his death. Major Lester then tookthe property. He had an only son, too; and the boys, being of the sameage, were much together; but their fathers would hardly speak to eachother, and were angry at the friendship between the boys. I rememberbeing at Major Lester's the very day of the sad event. I was callingon Mrs. Lester, and we heard a violent altercation going on in the hallbetween the brothers. Mr. Tom had come up for his son, who had madehim anxious by his non-appearance at home the night before. The ladshad been out for a night's rabbit-snaring with the gamekeeper, andAlick had slept at the Hall without the major's knowledge. I don'tknow why this should have led to such a violent quarrel, but Alick wassummoned from the stables, where he was found with his cousin Roger, and forbidden ever to put his foot on Major Lester's property again. Then and there the lads were separated; but as Mr. Tom marched off withhis son, he shouted out to his brother, "You'll live to see my sonstand in Roger's shoes yet, and the property will come back to therightful heir!"

'I remember Mrs. Lester turning to me, and trembling like a leaf: "Hewill murder Roger! The dreadful man!" she exclaimed; "that is the onlyway the property will come to Alick!"

'The very next day both boys were missing. Mr. Tom seemed quite asdistracted as his brother, but he declared he knew nothing of them, andfor a month no tidings were received, in spite of all the detectives atwork. Then came a letter from Alick, written for both of them, sayingthey had taken their passage together for Australia, and had alreadygot the promise of being taken on a farm; for they were made somiserable at home by the quarrels of their fathers, that they had"determined to clear out of it, " and nothing would separate them fromeach other. They have not been in this neighbourhood since; but lastautumn news came that Roger had disappeared. Alick wrote, givingdetails:--"I think Roger was sent on some confidential errand by thefarmer, for he had money with him, and they fear that he was robbed, perhaps murdered on the way. " Mrs. Lester, who was never very strong, took to her bed, and died a fortnight after the news was brought toher. But before she died she emphatically declared that Mr. Tom andhis son had decoyed Roger out of the country to make away with him; andAlick was solely responsible for his death. She persisted in thisuntil the major more than half believed it; and two days after thefuneral he came down here, and had another most violent quarrel withhis brother. It almost came to blows; and Mr. Tom decamped altogetherwithin a week from that time. I only tell you the story. Some peoplehere think badly of him, and his disappearance looks suspicious. Ofcourse he gave out that he was going to Australia to find out therights of it; but Major Lester does not believe this. '

'I wonder Major Lester does not go out himself, ' said Agatha, feelingstrangely interested in this story. 

'He is too crippled by gout to do so. He has put the matter into thehands of the police out there. It's a sad story. The major is mostregular at church, and highly respected in the neighbourhood. Mr. Tomis most erratic; I believe he has been seen in the Methodist chapeloccasionally, but won't put his foot inside our church; and he is noloss at all to the neighbourhood, for he lived the life of a recluse. I always look upon this house as an ill-omened place. I didn't tellyou that the last vicar who lived here died of delirium tremens. Hewas a disgrace to his profession, but that was thirty years ago. Thenew vicarage was built shortly after. ' Miss Miller paused for breath, and her brother remarked, 'You must not prejudice the Miss Danes, Deborah, against their house. It is a quaint place, and its past neednot be recorded. '

'We are charmed with it, ' said Agatha simply; 'and we have moved intoit at the right time. Spring in the country is always so delightful. '

Miss Miller was more agreeable when visiting than Agatha had hoped for, and though she insisted on the monopoly of the conversation, and gavethe good vicar little chance of putting in a word, yet Agatha felt thatthey would be pleasant neighbours. There was a good deal of discussionover the Lesters' history, but Gwen dismissed the subject in her usualway. 

'Major Lester is another Jacob. There's nothing more to be said, andMr. Tom is a much-abused and misunderstood man!'

Agatha began to settle into her new life very happily. She becameengrossed in housekeeping for several hours every morning, and wasdelighted to hear of a seamstress who could come in and work by theday. Deb Howitt was sent for, and she proved a skilful and industriousneedlewoman, and amused and interested all who came in contact with herby her quaint remarks. 

'Yes, ' she remarked to Gwen, who had strolled into Agatha's bedroom onemorning, and found Deb seated on the floor shaping a refractory carpetthat would not fit, 'my sister is the stay-at-home, and I bring her thenews of the world as I pick it up when I'm out visitin'. It'ssurprisin' the stories of high and low life that I hear. I take it allin, and think it over while I'm stitchin', and come to many a wiseconclusion before I take it back with me and talk it over with Patty. '

'And what conclusion will you come to about us?' asked Gwen. 

The old woman nodded her head with a meaning smile. 

'Ay, well, ye're a house full of women, and there's an astonishin'little scoldin' and quarrellin'. I should say, taking the cluster ofyou together, that the one at either end keeps the peace in the middle. '

Gwen laughed delightedly. 'You are right: Agatha and Elfie are thepeace-makers, Clare and I the disturbing elements! What else?'

But Deb shook her head, and would say no more. 

Clare and Gwen shared the study very amicably together, but both wereout of doors a great deal--Gwen tackling the untidy garden with a greatdeal of energy, but little experience; and Clare wandering about thelanes and fields, doing little, and dreaming much. Then came CaptainKnox's farewell visit, and it was a very short one. He appeared atseven o'clock one evening, just as the sisters were sitting down totheir high tea, which meal they had substituted for the orthodox dinnerto which they had been accustomed in London. 

Clare's cheeks grew pale as she greeted him. 'How long have you?' sheasked, a little breathlessly. 

'Till eight o'clock to-morrow morning. I must catch the 8. 30 trainfrom Brambleton. We sail to-morrow afternoon. '

It was rather a silent meal, and being a rough, stormy night Clare tookhim off to the study directly afterwards. She was in the mood thatpleased her lover best: sweet and gentle, and showing more affectionthan she was wont to do, for she was not demonstrative usually. 

'Hugh, ' she said later in the evening, after sitting still and lettinghim do most of the talking, 'I wish I were going with you. I feel asif this parting is going to be a long one. I can't bear this wind andrain to-night--it makes me feel as if something awful is coming; it wasjust the same the first night we were here. I have a kind ofpresentiment about your going, as if something evil is coming upon us. Couldn't you give it up?'

Captain Knox smiled a little, though his face looked troubled as hedrew her closer to him. 

'My darling, you would not really wish me to. We must look forward tosix months hence, when I return, and then, Clare, I shall wait nolonger. You must come to me for good and all. '

Clare did not reply for a minute, then gently slipping her hand intothe strong one near her, she said, very wistfully, 'Hugh, don't youthink we should both have more comfort if we had more religion? Ihaven't enough of it to satisfy me, I think. Now Agatha trustseverything in her life to--to God, and is never worried or anxious. Ican't do that, and oh, I'm so unsatisfied! You don't know how restlessand wretched I feel sometimes! I should like to be able to pray foryou properly when you are away, and feel that you were praying for me. '

Captain Knox was silent for a little, then he said quietly, --

'I have a certain amount of religion, as you know, and you couldn'thave too much for me, at least as long as you keep it to yourself. Ithink every woman is the better for being truly religious; but we menwho knock about amongst all kinds of evil, well, we can't expect to bevery devout. It is soon knocked out of one. Pray for me as much asyou like, darling; I need it!'

'I can't help thinking of Nannie's verse she gave me one evening, ' saidClare, with a little sigh: '"Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently forHim. " It sounds so nice; but I don't know how to do it. And I am sureI shall need patience till you come back again!'

'We must write to each other, and think of next autumn. I shall notforget to send you the translation of those characters on that oldcupboard. I am convinced they are Arabic. '

'Oh, bother the cupboard!' was Clare's petulant retort. 'It is too badyou are going away for so long, and you take it so coolly. I don'tbelieve you mind a bit!'

Here she burst into a passion of tears, and poor Captain Knox, who wascontrolling his feelings for her sake, almost gave way himself. 

It was not a happy evening, and Clare cried herself to sleep thatnight, feeling that she was the most unfortunate, wretched girl in theworld. She crept down the next morning with a white face to give himhis early breakfast, and then drove to Brambleton station with him; sono one saw the last parting. When she returned, she went upstairs toher room, and shut herself up for the rest of the morning. 

'It is a pity Clare did not show her affection for him more when shewas with him, ' said Gwen impatiently, when Agatha came to her in thestudy, and wondered if she should go up and try to comfort her. 'Ioften marvel at Hugh's infatuation for her. I don't believe she knowswhat real love is. She is so taken up with her own feelings and moods, that she has no time for his, and I think he is far too good for her. If she is so discontented before marriage, what will she be afterwards?He will have a miserable time of it, I am afraid!'

'You are too hard upon her! I daresay his absence will prove to herhow truly she loves him, for I am quite sure she does. '

'I have no patience with her!' said Gwen shortly; and then she buriedherself in her book again, whilst Agatha went away and shed some tearsherself over Captain Knox's departure. 

CHAPTER VII

Unrest

 'Thou hast made us for Thyself, And our hearts are restless till they rest in Thee. --_St. Augustine. _

Some weeks passed. The girls were perfectly satisfied with their quietcountry life. Elfie brightened the whole house with her music and highspirits. Agatha soon found her way to the nearest cottages, and wasfriends with all the farm labourers who passed by the house, and Gwentried to manage everything and everybody. Clare shook off her lowspirits, but was uncertain-tempered, and would never settle at anyoccupation for long at a time. Still, she delighted in the countryround, and would return from her rambles with her arms full of Nature'streasures, making the little house beautiful with her lovely flowersand greenery. 

Miss Miller fussed in and out, and was very glad of Agatha's help inparish matters; even unbending so far as to give Elfie permission toplay on the organ in church, which, of course, delighted her. Agathawas informed that she could visit as freely as she liked, but that norelief was to be given, except through the vicarage. 

'I look after everybody myself. I know the deserving and theundeserving, and they know me! I won't have anything given to myparishioners without my knowledge. My brother leaves it all in myhands. '

One afternoon Miss Villars called, and found only Clare at home. Shewas a sweet-looking, attractive woman, and Clare, with her usualimpulsiveness, lost her heart to her at once. She confided to her thehistory of her engagement, and parting with Captain Knox; and the visitlengthened into nearly an hour before Miss Villars took her leave. 

Clare went into raptures about her, when talking to her sistersafterwards. 

'She is not a bit goody or eccentric, as Hugh hinted. She talked andlaughed as naturally as any one; and she has such a lovely face. Dresses very quietly, but with good taste; and is such a gracefulwoman! She is quite the nicest person I have met for a long time. Iam dying to see her in her own home. I am sure it must be a charmingone. She drove over in an open carriage with a handsome pair ofhorses; and has offered to take us for drives whenever we like. '

'We really must afford ourselves a small trap, ' said Gwen. 'We cannotdo without it in the country. If we had a donkey, it would be betterthan nothing!'

'_I_ wouldn't go in a donkey-cart, ' said Clare, with disdain. 

'Then you could stay at home. Agatha, what do you say? We have astable. How much will it cost, do you think?'

When once Gwen took a matter in hand, she generally carried it through;and very shortly after, the sisters were the proud possessors of alittle two-wheeled trap, and a small rough pony. This was a greatconvenience as well as pleasure to them, and when Clare had a fit ofthe blues, she would go off to Brambleton and do some shopping, andreturn quite interested and eager to tell all she had seen and heard. She met Miss Villars on one of her expeditions, and she asked her to goand have a cup of tea with her before she returned home. This Clarewillingly did. She had not been to the house before, though Agatha andGwen had; but she found it quite answered her expectations. It was anideal old-fashioned country house, and Miss Villars was a perfecthostess. She introduced Clare to a delicate-looking girl staying withher: 'This is Miss Audrey Foster, who enjoys the country quite as muchas you do. '

'It is paradise to me, ' said the girl enthusiastically. 'I am aLondoner, and have never stayed in the country before. '

Clare looked at her, and noted that her shabby serge dress and palepinched face seemed strangely incongruous with her surroundings. Butwhen she had left the room shortly afterwards, Miss Villars said: 'MissFoster is the eldest daughter of an East End vicar. She has not had aholiday or any change from home since her school-days; and she ismother and governess to five younger brothers and sisters. I hope tosend her back a different creature. It is a great pleasure to givepleasure to other people, is it not?'

'I don't think I ever have, ' said Clare frankly. 

'Ah, well, my circumstances have made it easy for me to do so. Myhouse is too big to live alone in it, and so I have relays of youngvisitors who need a little brightness in their lives. It is so sad tothink of some young lives being cramped and dwarfed by theirsurroundings; and some natures utterly sink beneath the burden ofhousehold cares and anxieties, that ought not to touch them at all inyouth. '

'You are very good, Miss Villars, are you not?'

Miss Villars laughed brightly. 'Not at all, my dear child. I wish Iwere. '

'I wish I were too, ' said Clare, with sudden impulse. 'You look sohappy--I wish I knew your secret. '

'"Happy is that people whose God is the Lord, "' said Miss Villarssoftly. 

Clare sighed. 'I never have found religion make me happy, MissVillars. '

'No more have I. It is only the Lord Himself who can do that. Do youknow Him as your Friend and Saviour?'

Clare had never had such a question put to her before. 'I don't knowHim at all, ' she said earnestly; 'God seems such a long way off. '

'You know how you can get near Him?'

'By being very religious, I suppose. '

'The Bible doesn't say so. It says this: "But now in Christ Jesus yewho sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. ForHe is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down themiddle wall of partition between us. " Think that verse over, dear, andlook it up in your own Bible. '

'But, ' said Clare, hesitating a little, 'I don't think I want to bebrought nearer to God. That has no attraction for me. '

'Then you will never know real happiness. Any soul away from itsCreator knows no peace. '

Clare was silent, and then Miss Foster entered the room again, and thesubject was changed; but Clare had plenty of food for reflection as shedrove home. 

It was a lovely afternoon in June--so warm that for once the foursisters were together in the shady verandah outside the drawing-roomwindows, taking their ease and waiting for their afternoon tea. Agathawas the only one who was doing anything, and she was stitching away atsome small garment for one of the farm carter's children. It was astill, drowsy afternoon; the very bees seemed too lazy to hum, and weresettling sleepily on the rose bushes close to their hives. 

'This is the most sleepy time in the day, ' observed Gwen, leaning backin her low wicker chair, her head resting on her arms behind it, 'Icould go to sleep in five minutes if I chose; there is not a creaturemoving for miles round us, I expect. '

'I love the stillness, ' said Clare. 'Every one in the country has timeto rest. How different it is in London!'

'I think we're all living very lazy lives, ' said Elfie, as she picked aclimbing rose beside her and placed it in her belt; 'I feel as if everyday here is one long holiday!'

'Well, we are not at school, ' returned Clare; 'and I beg to state Ihave not been idle to-day. Attending to the flowers in the house everymorning is no joke! I was nearly two hours over them; then I wroteletters and took them to the post before luncheon, and I have beenmending a dress, and tidying my cupboards since. '

Gwen laughed a little derisively. 'You will never die of hard work, Clare. '

'I think it is harder work doing what I have done, than sitting stillin the same chair from ten o'clock to one, and simply reading andwriting!'

'Ted was asking for directions in the garden, ' said Agatha, looking up;'but when I peeped inside the study, Gwen, and saw you had one of yourwriting crazes on, I knew it was no good coming to you. '

'No, he has plenty of work, and I shall be occupied in the morning forsome time now. '

'Why have you taken such a fit of it?' asked Clare. 'You're writing asif for your life. '

'I want money, ' was the brief reply. 

'What for?'

'That I shall not tell you at present. I want it so much, that I ameven condescending to write silly stories, which I despise myself fordoing. '

'Oh! that will be delightful, ' exclaimed Elfie. 'Couldn't you read usone now, to pass the time?'

'I will read you a kind of conundrum I have dashed off this morning toamuse some sentimental goose like Clare!'

'Thank you, ' said Clare imperturbably; and when Gwen sauntered into thehouse to get her manuscript, she said, 'Gwen is preparing some surprisefor her family. You mark my words; before long she will unfold astartling plan of action!'

Gwen reappeared very soon, and settling herself in her easy chair, began to read in a lazy and slightly mocking tone as follows:--

'The princess walks in her garden alone. Her face is sad, and hersteps are slow. She reaches a low moss-covered wall, and leaning uponit gazes dreamily and wistfully upon the busy crowded city below. Sounds of toil and labour meet her ears. The busy multitudes are allengaged in the various occupations of their spheres. And whilst theringing laughter, the joyous mirth, of some is borne upwards by thebreeze, it is mingled with the sobs and bitter weeping of the neglectedand oppressed. Stretching out her soft white hands, she clasps them inpiteous yearning. 

'"My soul craves for it, " she cries. "Since first I became consciousof its absence I am longing to find it. If I could devote a lifetimeto it, and obtain it at last, I should die content!"

 * * * * * *

'She stands in the deepest recess of a lonely forest. Far away fromthe city, no human habitation is near. Her feet are on themoss-covered ground, soft as velvet to the touch. Above is a canopy ofgreen, through which the pure blue heavens appear, and the rays of thesetting sun are giving the stately elms and rugged oaks a golden beautyof its own. She is leaning against a copper beech, and her soft brownhair is kissing the shining bark. Her blue eyes are turned upwards, full of expectancy and hope. She stands like a beautiful statue. Asquirrel darts up a tree close by, and rabbits sport amongst the fallenleaves. The birds are carolling forth their evening hymns of praise, and Nature seems to be parading its loveliness. But her face issorrowful still, and she shakes her head dejectedly. "It is of noavail, " she murmurs; "even here in such a scene I cannot obtain myheart's desire! I yearn more for it day by day, and yet with thecrushing longing within my breast I seem further away than ever fromit!"

'She turns, and retraces her steps to the home of her forefathers. 

 * * * * * *

'A luxuriously furnished apartment; cool and refreshing after the glareof the sun outside. The Venetian shutters are closed. Sweet-scentedflowers are filling the room with their perfume. The sound ofchildren's happy voices, as they roam through the meadows and play inthe new-mown hay, the humming of bees, sipping their honey from thefull-blown flowers, come in at the open windows. Upon a couch in thedarkest corner of the room lies our princess. She is not asleep; herhands are folded listlessly across her breast, her lips are moving. Now burying her face in the cushions, she exclaims:--

'"No, I have it not. Methought I might find it even here. Nohappiness for me until I experience it All the gold I possess would Igladly give to have the exquisite pleasure of obtaining and realizingit!"

 * * * * * *

It is night-time. She stands upon the summit of a hill alone, and herfigure looks weird and ghostly in the silver moonlight. Her head isthrown back, her lips parted breathlessly; her whole attitude bespeakseager and intense expectation. She is waiting and watching for thedesire of her heart. 

'She overlooks the city, now wrapped in slumber. Green plains stretchaway in the dim distance, and the moon throws its light upon herupturned face, making fantastic shadows around her. Hark! From yondertree the nightingale trills out her midnight song. She listens anddoes not move, but hears it to the end. It ceases, and the wind rushesthrough the long grass at her feet, and shakes the leaves above, evenventuring with its lawless impudence to buffet her fair brow, andscatter her brown locks across her eyes. A deep sigh escapes from herheaving breast. "It is hopeless. I am well-nigh despairing. Whithershall I go? I will not be conquered. I must find, and will find itsoon!"

 * * * * * *

'Again we see her. In a grotto, deep in the heart of the earth. Sheis seated on a rock, and all is darkness save a faint ray of light thatcreeps through a small crevice overhead. 

'No one is near. No living creature but herself, and she is stillseeking and waiting for what she has not found. Water is tricklingdrop by drop from the moist roof above; the atmosphere is damp andclose, yet little she heeds the discomfort of her surroundings, andheavy sighs come from her lips. She looks up at last, then wends herway still further into the innermost recess of the cavern. She standsbeneath a deep vaulted roof, in deeper darkness, but in drieratmosphere, and here she pauses, a light coming into her sad blue eyes, and for the first time a smile hovering about her lips. A quiver ofexcitement, a thrill of suppressed awe vibrates through her nervouslystrung frame. "At last, " she murmurs; "if nowhere else, I shall findit here. "

'Her heart throbs violently, and in vain she places her hand upon it tostill its beating. Moments pass in anxious hope, then suddenly shesinks to the ground in a passion of sobs and bitter weeping. 

'"No, no, poor weak fool that I have been, " she breaks forth, indisdainful self-contempt; "never in this life shall I obtain it, foroutward circumstances influence it little. How vainly deluded I havebeen hitherto! Little did I imagine that the very longing and cravingof my heart for it, would thereby prevent my possessing it!"

'She leaves the cavern, and returns to her home a wiser woman. '

Gwen folded her manuscript up quietly, adding indifferently, 'Now whatwas it she wanted?'

'I should say, "Work, "' remarked Agatha in her matter-of-fact way. 'She seems to have been a most idle young person. '

'Rest and contentment, ' murmured Clare, looking at Gwen with dreamy, thoughtful eyes. 

'Sleep, perhaps, ' suggested Elfie. 

'You're all wrong. '

'Tell us then. '

'She wanted silence. '

And humming an air, Gwen walked into the house without another word. 

Elfie began to laugh. 'What a queer subject! Gwen never does writelike other people. There is no moral at all. '

Neither of the others spoke for a little. Then Agatha said, folding upher work, 'It may take in certain magazines, but I think she writes farbetter when she keeps to facts, not fancies. '

'It has a moral, ' said Clare, looking away over the meadows. 

'What is it?' asked Elfie, regarding her curiously. 

'Failure is in self, not circumstances!'

After which slow denunciation, Clare also moved into the house, andwhen she reached her bedroom she murmured to herself, 'And I know allmy unrest and discontent come from within me. It is not mysurroundings. Miss Villars must be right. '

CHAPTER VIII

Entertaining a Stranger

 'In all things Mindful not of _herself, but bearing_ the burden of others. '--_Longfellow. _

It was Sunday evening. Agatha sat by the drawing-room window, herBible on her lap, and her thoughts far away from things of earth. Allthe rest of the household were at church, and she was enjoying thestillness around her. The sun was setting just behind the pine treesin the distance, and shedding a rosy glow upon their slender stems; thehush of night seemed to be falling on all Nature, and Agatha was sowrapped up in her thoughts, that she did not notice the figure of a manquietly and swiftly approaching the house. She was the more startledwhen a voice broke upon the stillness; and she looked up to see a manstanding close outside the window. 

'Pardon me, madam, but will you kindly allow me to enter? I wish tohave a few words with you. '

Visions of housebreakers, robbing, and perhaps murdering, if theirwishes were denied them, flitted through Agatha's perturbed mind. Sheknew she was alone in the house, and beyond the reach of any help; shealso realized that all the three French windows leading out to theverandah were open; but, nevertheless, she showed a brave front. Without rising from her seat, she looked the intruder straight in theface. 

'Perhaps, if you will make known your errand, I will comply with yourrequest. You are at present a perfect stranger to me. '

Her visitor smiled. He was an elderly man, with a stoop in hisshoulders, and a rather shabby great-coat buttoned tight up under hischin. 

'My errand might startle you, ' he said; 'I wish to get at something inthe study cupboard. '

Poor Agatha's heart beat loudly. 'That you cannot do without theowner's consent, ' she replied sternly, 'and he is at present abroad. '

Then with a little old-fashioned bow the stranger took off his hat. 

'No, madam, he is not abroad. He is before you!'

Agatha stared at him. She saw rather kindly-looking blue eyes peeringat her through thick shaggy eyebrows; a care-worn, smooth-shaven face, with a very broad intellectual brow, and a smile that somehow or otherdisarmed her suspicions. 

'Are you--are you sure?' she faltered stupidly. 

'Sure that my name is Thomas Lester, and that instead of being a trampor burglar molesting a lonely woman, I am now respectfully solicitingadmission into my own house? Yes, madam, I assure you on the honour ofa gentleman that I am no impostor!'

Agatha rose at once. 'Then please come in, and forgive my suspicions. I never heard of your return. '

'No, ' he said, stepping inside and quietly taking a seat; 'I came backhurriedly, and did not wish my visit here to be known. That is why Ichose to come down from London to-day, for I knew my respected brotherwould be safely and piously conducting his devotions in church. Haveyou made his acquaintance, Miss Dane?'

'No, he has not called upon us. '

'And you have seen nothing of my son? Do you know my story? I see bythe book that you are reading that you must be a good woman. I knowyou are a brave one by my reception. May I confide in you a little?'

Agatha looked up sympathetically. 

'We do know something about you, ' she said; 'quite enough to make usfeel very sorry for you. '

Mr. Lester then told her again much of what she had already heard, withadditions, which drew out her sympathy still more for him. He told herthat when he reached the farm where his son had been working, he foundhe had left it, saying he was going to track out his cousin, and wouldnever come back till he had found him. 

'My journey was fruitless, and then, after making many uselessinquiries, I fancied he might have returned home, as my last letter tohim had urged him to be home again without fail before this summerwould be over. So I came back, and find from my agents in London thathe must be still abroad. My journey out there was a failure; both ladsare swallowed up in the Australian bush, but I don't believe they aredead, and I am convinced that Alick will never come back withouttidings of his cousin. Their affection for each other was absurd, preposterous, and utterly out of place. '

He paused, and Agatha asked anxiously:---

'Are you going back to Australia again?'

'I don't know. '

'Perhaps you wish to return here?'

'Not at all. I never will, until things are on a different footingbetween myself and my brother. He has insulted me openly in thisneighbourhood; even daring to hint that I have plotted to get rid ofhis son! No, I came to get something I want out of my locked cupboard. I conclude you will have no objection to my doing this?'

'Certainly not'; and Agatha rose and led him to the study. She lefthim there, but as she turned away she heard him quietly lock the doorbehind her; and again she felt a nervous thrill run through her, as shewondered if he were an impostor after all. 

Half an hour later he came back to her in the drawing-room. 

'I am going to do a foolish thing, ' he said; 'I cannot tell what impelsme to do it, but the very thing I was going to take away I amdeliberately going to leave here with you. '

'I would rather you took it away, whatever it is, ' Agatha said hastily. 

'It will not be in your way. I see you are careful tenants, and aslong as you keep my wishes respected about that locked cupboard, itwill be safe; far safer than if I carried it about with me, as Ithought of doing. If you wish to correspond with me at any time, myagents in London will forward anything to me. I will give you theircard. One thing I am going to leave with you, and this shows theconfidence I place in you. It is the secret of opening that cupboard. I have sealed the directions up in this envelope; and I want you togive me your solemn promise that you will keep it as I give it to you, in trust for my son. When he returns, he will be sure to find his waydown here. Be kind to him, and give him the envelope. I have neverconfided to him the secret of the cupboard, and I wish him to open itas soon as he arrives. It is most important he should. 

'You may wonder at my trusting a comparative stranger with such acharge, but I am a good reader of faces, and I do not think you willfail me. Promise me you will keep this envelope from the knowledge ofany one, even from your sisters; and promise me you will do what Idesire about it!'

But, ' objected Agatha, 'we may not live here always. If we leavebefore your son returns----'

'My son is bound to come back before the end of this year, if he isalive. '

'Then will he wish to come and live here?'

'No. Neither my son nor I will ever live here again, I fancy. '

'Then where will you be when your son returns?'

'I do not know. In my grave, perhaps. I have told you my agents'address. '

So, after a little hesitation and a great deal of wonder, Agatha gavehim her promise to act as he wished. Seeing he looked tired and worn, she asked him if he would have any refreshment, but he refused. 

'You need not make my visit known throughout the neighbourhood, ' hesaid, standing up and buttoning up his coat; then glancing at herBible, which lay open on the table by her side, he added rathersarcastically:

'If you want a Bible study, Miss Dane, discover the answer to aproposition made in the Book of Jeremiah. I believe it's in the firstverse of the twelfth chapter. You see I know my Bible well. '

'And so do I, ' said Agatha, smiling, 'though not so well as I ought. And I can tell you that the same proposition troubled David; but hesolved it in the sanctuary. '

'Is that a hint to me?' said Mr. Lester, a little taken aback by herquick reply. 

'No; though don't you think it a pity to hold aloof from God's worshipon the day set apart for it? Even the heathen are more respectful totheir false gods. '

'I did not expect to receive a sermon here, ' he responded, with alittle dry smile. 

'No, and I would not presume to give it, ' said Agatha, smiling in herturn. 'And don't be surprised that I knew your verse in Jeremiah sowell. I came across it the other day, and thought it fitted in wellwith a favourite Psalm of ours, the thirty-seventh. We have had anexperience something like yours, and it would make one bittersometimes, if one did not remember that our circumstances are beingshaped by God Himself. '

Mr. Lester said nothing, but held out his hand, and Agatha took it, feeling strangely drawn to him. They shook hands, and then, as Mr. Lester stepped out into the verandah, he turned. 

'Remember your promise, and offer a prayer sometimes for a disappointedold man who fears he won't live to see his hopes fulfilled. '

He disappeared in the fast-falling twilight, and Agatha sat in herchair, gazing before her as if in a dream. Her sisters found herstrangely preoccupied when they returned; but when they were enjoying acold supper together, and the maids were out of the room, she told themof her strange visitor, begging them to say nothing of it to any one, and purposely omitting to tell them of the envelope entrusted to her. 

'Are you perfectly certain he was genuine?' said Gwen anxiously. 'Itwas a very risky thing to let him have sole possession of the study!Why did you not offer to stay in the room with him?'

'How could I? He locked himself in!'

'Worse and worse! He might have been taking impressions of the locks, and will break into the house another night by the study window!'

Agatha shook her head with a confident smile. 'He was a gentleman, andhad a true face; I am not at all afraid of him. '

'It is quite an adventure, ' said Clare, flushing up with excitement. 'Now, what do you think he wanted to get at in the cupboard? Is it atreasure store, or does it hide some ghastly secret? I really think Ishould have peeped through the key-hole, and seen how he opened it. Itwould have been such an opportunity. '

'Did you dismiss him with a tract?' asked Gwen mockingly. 

'No, I had not one by me, ' said Agatha simply. 'I feel very sorry forhim. He is in great trouble about his son. '

'And you are sure he does not want to come back and turn us out? Itwould be very awkward if he did. '

'He seemed quite certain on that point. '

Gwen heaved a sigh of relief. 'I think I will tell you what I purposedoing, she said rather solemnly; 'or shall I put it off till to-morrow?'

'"'Tis the Sabbath, "' quoted Elfie, mimicking old Deb Howitt's tones. 

'If it is anything startling, I would rather you kept it tillto-morrow, ' said Agatha; 'I have had quite enough to startle mealready. '

'Oh, very well, ' responded Gwen unconcernedly; 'my news will keep. '

But she was disappointed that no one seemed curious enough to press herfor more information, and the next day, after working hard all themorning in the garden, went off to see the Howitts in the afternoon. 

Gwen had taken a real liking to the sisters, and would often drop inupon Patty, and have a cup of tea with her when her sister was away. 

It was a warm day, and she was glad to reach the cottage, with itsshady orchard round it, after the blazing meadows she had crossed. 

Under an old apple-tree, on a low stool, she found Patty sitting, knitting furiously away at a grey worsted stocking, and muttering toherself as she did so. 

'What is the matter?' Gwen asked gaily, as she took a seat on the grassby her side; 'you look quite agitated!'

''Tis one of our bad days, ' said Patty, looking up and shaking her headdolefully. ''Tis generally the wash-tub that does it, and Monday isour washing day. I did mean to be careful that my lips didn't offend, but 'tis no good when she's of an argumentative turn! Yes, miss, she'slocked me out, and I hope she's enjoyin' herself, for on Mondays Ialways bakes a cake for tea. Deb never did have a light hand for suchthings, and she's a-messin' in there with my flour bin, and pilin' tonsof coal on the fire, for I've been watchin' the smoke, and I can tell, and if I'm kept out here till dark, I'll maintain a promised wife comesbefore a sister!'

'Is that the discussion?' asked Gwen, her eyes twinkling with amusement. 

'Now let me put it to you, miss, and she'd no business to begin it overthe wash-tub, for it wants a cool head and a quiet mind to tackle suchthings. She was tellin' me of a case that was told her up atThornicroft Manor, which is three mile the other side of Brambleton;and the housekeeper knew the parties concerned, being first cousin onceremoved to the young man. He was engaged to be married to an orphangirl, a-tryin' to earn her livin' by dressmakin', but makin' a verypoor thing out of it. And they had kept company for six years, andthen his mother died and left his only sister on his hands. But mindyou, miss, they were a-goin' to be married, and had fixed the daybefore his mother took ill, and then what does the young fellow do butbreak it all off with his girl, sayin' he was only able to keep onewoman, and that would have to be his sister! Now what do you think, miss? I say it was a cryin' shame of him, and Deb, she will have hedid right, for his sister was delicate, and flesh and blood come first, she says. We argued it up and down, and she cried him up, and I criedhim down, and we gets hotter and hotter. We couldn't keep off it afterwe left the wash-tubs and was a-havin' a bit of dinner; but I sticks toit that a promised wife comes first, and then, with a shove, I foundmyself out of doors, and the key locked behind me!'

Gwen laughed till the tears ran down her cheeks. Old Patty's intenseinterest in the unknown young couple, and her warm partisanship for thelittle dressmaker, together with her tragic tone and injured demeanour, were too much for her gravity. 

'You are two foolish old women, ' she said at last. 'I suppose it islove of your own opinions, and not the fate of these strangers, thatmakes you so combative. Which of you has the stronger will?'

'Ay, we're wonderful alike in temper, more's the pity, but I considermyself a fitter judge of right and wrong than Deb, who goes about andhears so much that it's all hearin' and no meditatin', whiles I sithere, and has the time and opportoonity to weigh the matters in andout, without the clack of many tongues to confuse my brain and make mesay a man is a saint when he is a fool, not to say a sinner!'

Nothing that Gwen could say would calm the old woman, and when she wentup to the cottage door, Deb remained conveniently deaf to all herknocks. She came home, and gave a graphic description of the quarrelto her sisters; but when their obstinacy was being condemned, Agathasaid in her quiet way:

'Well, Gwen, you ought to have sympathy with them, for if any one evergoes against you, I am sure you feel as they do. '

'You mean I am fond of my own way and opinions, and won't bearcontradiction! Oh, Agatha, how you love to preach to us all! I won'tsay you are mistaken, for I am not going to get up an argument, and Iwant you all to be especially agreeable while I lay a plan of minebefore you. '

'Now for it, ' murmured Clare; and both Agatha and Elfie leant back intheir chairs, the one in anxious, the other in amused anticipation ofwhat might follow. 

CHAPTER IX

Gwen's Resolve

 'How little thou canst tell How much in thee is ill or well! Nor for thy neighbour, nor for thee, Be sure!'--_Clough. _

Gwen cleared her throat. She sat in a low wicker chair by the openwindow of the drawing room, and for a minute her eye wandered out intothe back garden, which looked in perfect order, and hardly needed theincessant hoeing and weeding of a lanky youth, who was now resting onhis hoe and leaning against the wall in a sleepy attitude. 

'We have now been here three months, and after the satisfactory eveningwe had with our accounts, Agatha, last week, we have come to theconclusion that we can live here well within our income. This beingthe case, and all anxiety for the future----'

'You're talking like a book, ' interrupted Elfie saucily; 'don't purseup your mouth so, and look so superior, and like Cousin James. '

'Very well, then, I will come to the point at once. I mean to go outto California and pay Walter a visit, and I want to sail before the endof this month. '

There was a dead silence. Then Agatha said a little drily, 'And youwill want your 100 pounds to do that, of course?'

'No, I don't. ' Gwen's tone was a little sharp. 'I have some in handfrom my writing. I can see from your faces that you don't approve, butI've had it in my mind for a long time, only I have waited to see howthings would go. Cousin Jacob's treachery was a bitter blow, as I wasafraid you would want me at home to look after you all----'

'We're not the poor fools you think us, ' put in Clare indignantly. 

Gwen went on as if she had not heard her: 'And now I have got thegarden into such excellent condition, and you are all shaking down andfinding friends and occupations for yourselves--Agatha, the vicar andthe villagers; Clare, her sweet Miss Villars; and Elfie, dividedbetween the church organ and her music at home--I shall not be neededor missed. I don't mean to be away for years, but I am sure fromWalter's letters that he is not doing as well as he should. He wantsshaking up, perhaps starting in a new groove; and, honestly, I want tosee life in the Colonies. It will do me good, and I hope I shall dohim good. I may be back in six months' time. That is my idea--to payhim a visit, and then come back to you here. '

'I suppose we should all like to visit him, ' said Clare crossly. 'Whyshouldn't one of us go, and you stay at home? I am sure a winter herewill finish me. '

Walter seems such a stranger to us, ' said Elfie, 'that I wonder if hewill like it. He was always at a boarding-school, and we only saw himfor the holidays, and then he went abroad directly he left school. Ihardly know anything about him. Has he any idea you are going, Gwen?

'I will write by the next mail and tell him. I know him a littlebetter than you do, Elfie, for you were but a child when he leftEngland. He has often said how he would like one of us out there tokeep house for him. Of course, he will be delighted. '

'I am sorry you want to go, ' Agatha said slowly. 

'Why? Is there any good reason why I should stay at home?'

Agatha was silent, and though the younger girls plied Gwen withinnumerable questions, and were full of excitement about it, she saidnothing, and presently walked out of the room. 

Gwen looked after her with a mixture of doubtful perplexity andannoyance. She and Agatha had always been much together, and shevalued her opinion, though determined not to be swayed by it. She feltthis silence meant disapproval, and was by turns uneasy and indignantat it. It was not till after Clare and Elfie had retired to bed thatnight that Agatha referred to the matter. And Gwen little knew thatshe had been kneeling at her bedside praying for guidance in offeringher advice, for more than an hour that evening. 

'Well, ' said Gwen, with a little laugh, as she reclined in herfavourite wicker chair, and looked up at her sister's grave face, asshe turned from her writing-table to speak, 'what does Madam Prudencesay to my scheme?'

'I think it is too important a step to take hastily, ' said Agatha. 

'My dear, I have been thinking of it for months; there has been nohaste in the matter. Removal of objection number one! Now for numbertwo!'

'I think, ' said Agatha slowly, 'that you are quite as likely tounsettle Walter as to settle him. He is not doing very grandly, but hekeeps out of debt; and it seems to me that it is only by steadyperseverance that fortunes are made nowadays. Then you may seriouslyinconvenience him by giving him such short notice of your intentions. A man living by himself on a small farm is not prepared to receiveladies at a day's notice. He may be away from home when you arrive. Oh yes, I know you are not going to be influenced by what I say, but Ido ask you to look upon it as a serious matter. And, Gwen, you know Idon't often "preach, " as you term it, but I do wish you would practisethe verse old Nannie gave you just before we left London. It is animportant step. Do commit it unto the Lord. '

'I am not religious, ' said Gwen, a little lightly. 

'Do you never mean to be?'

'I don't know. Every one has a different nature. It is natural foryou to be good. It is natural for you to trust and lean upon religion, because you have such a humble opinion of your own judgment and powers. Now I feel--I can't help feeling--a confidence in myself. It may beconceit, but it is natural for me to trust in my own judgment, and planmy own course of life, and until disaster attends my attempts I shallcontinue to act for myself. Of this I am certain!'

'Ah, don't say that!' exclaimed Agatha; 'it would be sad if disasterwere to follow this step of yours. I hoped, from your advocating acountry life, that you would be content to settle down here quietly. If it is the dulness of the place that is driving you abroad, I amsorry we ever came here. '

'I am never dull anywhere, ' Gwen said quickly; 'I have too manyresources. It is not that at all. I have wanted to go out to Walterfor a long time, and now I have made enough money to do it, nothingwill stop me. '

'You are so sure of yourself, ' said Agatha, sighing. 

'Yes, and I am not ashamed of it. We can't be all alike, andself-confidence is a great blessing sometimes. It saves one from aninfinite amount of care and worry. '

Agatha was silent. As is often the case with sisters, there was greatreserve between them on matters that lay closely to their hearts, andthough Agatha longed to warn Gwen of her besetting fault, she hesitated. 

Gwen continued with alacrity: 'I have made inquiries about steamers, and hope to sail the week after next. I have very little preparationto make, for I am not given to much luggage. '

'And you mean to go out quite by yourself?'

'Why not? In these days chaperons are unnecessary. There are alwayssome nice people on board who befriend single women. I am not a younggirl. '

'You are not very old, ' said Agatha, scanning the bright, handsome facewith its wilful mouth and determined chin; 'and as I know vanity is nota failing of yours, I may say that you are too good-looking to be goingabout the world alone. '

Gwen laughed. 'Oh, you poor old thing! Why will you try to mother usall, when you cannot manage it! You may be perfectly certain I cantake care of myself. Now shall we go to bed, or have you any moreobjections to make?'

'I wish you would pray over it, ' were Agatha's parting words; and whenGwen got to her room that night she pondered over them. 

She was not actually irreligious. She read her Bible occasionally, andwent through a form of prayer by her bedside every night; but religionhad never touched her heart. It was but an empty name to her, and shewas too secure in her self-confidence and pride to ever feel her needof anything outside herself. 

She drew her Bible towards her now, and turned to the 37th Psalm. Shefirst glanced at the verse Nannie gave her, then read the psalm throughcarefully and steadily. 

'It exactly describes Cousin James, ' was her inward thought. 'I wishwe could always see the good righted in this life, and the wicked cutoff. I am afraid I could not follow out these precepts in my life. Itis all waiting and trusting and doing nothing oneself, but letting Goddo it all for one. It is a psalm that must bring wonderful comfort toAgatha. Of course, I shall be able to pray that my visit to Walter maybe for good, but I am sure it will. It is not as if I am meditatingsome very wrong course of action. If they really wanted me here, Iwould not think of leaving them. I am going out for Walter's good. Ohdear! how often I wish I had been the man in our family!'

With such thoughts as these she presently bent her head, and asked ablessing on her undertaking, and then turned into bed, feeling veryvirtuous at having done so. 

There was a great deal of talk between the sisters about Gwen'sproposal, but not one of them now thought to dissuade her, and the onlyunpleasant criticism she had to bear was from Miss Miller. 

Elfie and Gwen met her in the village, and she stopped them at once. 

'What is this I hear?' she demanded, tapping Gwen on the shoulder withher stick. 'Are you going off to find a husband abroad, because youhaven't been able to pick one up here? I thought you young ladieswould be disappointed when you came to know our neighbourhood. '

'Our friends and acquaintances are not limited to this small corner, Miss Miller, ' retorted Gwen, holding her head proudly; 'we should be ina poor plight if they were. And if we felt dull, London is not out ofreach. I am going out to my brother. '

'So I have been told. You are going to live amongst bushrangers andsavages. It shows a refined and modest taste to go where you will bethe only woman. But I am surprised at nothing in these days, wheneverything is topsy-turvy, and society at its worst. Women vie withone another in being conspicuous, and girls go about the world in men'sclothes!'

Elfie began to laugh, but Gwen said haughtily, --

'Since it does not surprise you, Miss Miller, I wonder you mention itat all. '

'Husband-hunting!' growled Miss Miller; and she hurried past themwithout another word. 

'She is an impertinent woman!' said Gwen wrathfully. 

'I think she is an old dear, ' said Elfie merrily. 'You never hearpeople speak out their thoughts as she does! I always wonder what sheis going to say next. The other day I was leaving a message for Agathaat the vicarage, when she came out with Lady Buttonshaw, who had beencalling there. She said good-bye to her, and then added with greatseverity: "It is a good thing for you to be without your maid for alittle. I shall not hurry Emma Gray to go to you. A woman might aswell turn into a fashion-block as allow her maid to clothe and unclotheher as your maid does you! Bestir yourself, my dear. Find out onwhich side the buttons on your boots are, and how many hairpins arenecessary for the erection of your pretty hair!" Lady Buttonshaw onlylaughed as she walked away. I suppose everybody knows that her bark isworse than her bite!'

Gwen had a different criticism pronounced upon her departure by old Deband Patty. She went to wish them good-bye, and their surprise wasgreat when she told them where she was going. 

'Is it among the wild beasts and heathens? Well, you're a brave younglady to venture out all alone. But I should be terribly afeared oflosin' my way. Are there signposts all the way?'

'There, Patty, you ain't showin' off your knowledge to talk so! MissGwen will go all the way in a steamer, and her brother will be meetin'her when she comes to land. It's the steamers are so tryin' to fleshand blood. Mr. Giles told me all about it when he went to America withhis master. You have to sleep on shelves up the wall, and there be nowashin' your clothes for the whole time you're on the sea, which to aclean, decent body must be dreadful! And the food is shaken out of youas fast as you gets it down, and 'tis a marvel that a body gets to theother side o' the world alive!'

'It's wonderful good of you, miss, to go to take care of your brother!'said Patty, regarding Gwen with an awe-struck face; 'but you gentlefolkseem to be hardier to such things than us should be. And then you'llbe able to speak them foreign langwidges. But it's to be hoped thecannibals won't get hold on you. I've only seen one person come backfrom foreign parts alive, and that was Tom Clark, and he was a sailor. But I reckon there are a few beside him that live to come back!'

'You'll not be marryin' an Indian prince out there, miss?' put in Debanxiously. 

'Miss Gwen is a Christian, ' Patty said solemnly. 'She wouldn't bemarryin' a heathen who keeps wives by the score, and eats them up byturns!'

And Gwen laughingly assured them that she meant to return as shewent--a single woman. 

The days slipped by; Gwen, with her usual energy and determination, arranged for her journey in every detail, and when the time came, tookleave of her sisters with cheerful equanimity. 

'It is not for very long, ' she said; 'and if you want me back sooner, you have only to wire and tell me so. I shall be back, I hope, beforeChristmas. '

But Christmas seemed to Agatha a long way off, and she perhaps of allthe sisters felt most depressed at Gwen's departure. 

CHAPTER X

Clare's Discovery

 'A closed bud containeth Possibilities infinite and unknown. '

Life went on very quietly with the three who were left. Elfie was thesunshine of the house; her ringing laugh and little snatches of song, as she came in and out, cheered all who heard her. And Clare, fitfuland uncertain in her bright moods, could not understand Elfie'sunfailing good-humour. 

'You never will take life seriously, ' she said to her one morning afterbreakfast, as they were waiting for the postman in the garden, andElfie had seated herself on the top bar of the gate, swinging herselfto and fro, and trilling out an old English ditty as she did so. 

'I can't make cares when we have none, ' she responded laughingly; 'Ihave never been so happy in my life as I am now. '

'I wish I could be contented with so little. '

'Oh, you! You're always straining after shadows, and won't live in thepresent at all. Now tell me, what have you to make you unhappy to-day?You're expecting a letter from Hugh, and Miss Villars is coming to teawith us this afternoon. Those are two pleasures for you. And thenlook at our weather! This is an ideal summer. 

 "Strange that summer skies and sunshine Never seem one half so fair, As when winter's snowy pinions Shake the white down in the air. "

Why don't you live in the present?'

'Don't preach, ' said Clare carelessly; 'it's too warm this morning toargue. Here comes that lazy man at last!'

Elfie sprang down and seized the letters with a bright nod of welcometo the stolid-looking postman. 

'Here is one from Gwen! Agatha will be pleased; and here is Hugh's!Now, Clare, be happy! And there is not one for me, so I shall go toAgatha to hear how Gwen is getting on. '

She darted into the house, and Clare, sinking into a chair on the shadyverandah, prepared herself to enjoy one of Captain Knox's periodicalepistles. They were always full of life and interest; and Clare wasbeginning to feel a sick longing to have him back with her again. Evenas she read she let the letter fall in her lap whilst she mused uponthe past. 'I used to be so cross to him. I took all his love andattention so coolly. If I only had him back again, how different Iwould be! He was always so unselfish, and I was so selfish anddiscontented. I can't think now how I could have been unhappy when Iwas constantly seeing him. Oh, Hugh! if you could come to me now, Iwould never grumble again! One touch, one word, one look, if only Icould have it!'

And Clare's blue eyes filled with tears, and her sight was dim as shefinished reading her letter. She remained motionless for some minutesthen, and was rising slowly from her seat to go and hear the news ofGwen, when a slip of paper fluttered out of the envelope. It was apostscript as follows:--

'Here is Mr. Lester's motto on the carved scroll. It was in Arabic, asI thought, and the translation is something like this:--

 'A closed bud containeth Possibilities infinite and unknown. '

Clare folded it up with a sigh. 

'There is no clue there, that I can see. I will have another look atthe cupboard this afternoon. '

She joined her sisters, and heard a racy account of Gwen's experienceson board ship. She had fallen in with nice people--a Mr. And Mrs. Montmorency, going out to California for the third time to look aftersome property of theirs. 

'We are great friends, ' Gwen wrote. 'Mr. Montmorency is a clever, well-read man--can talk on any subject, and has been in California fornearly thirty years. His advice would be invaluable to Walter. I amasking them to come and pay us a visit when they are in ourneighbourhood, which they hope to be before long, and they havepromised to do so. Mr. Montmorency does not think farming pays inWalter's locality. He says there are many things more profitable; butI will not tell you all our talk. I spend most of my time with them. You may be interested in hearing that Clement Arkwright is on board. But I give him a wide berth. He asked some rather impertinentquestions the first time we spoke to each other. I showed him it wouldnot answer, and now we pass each other with a bow!'

'Who is Clement Arkwright?' asked Elfie. 

Clare laughed. 

'One of Gwen's old admirers. He has too much of her self-will anddogged pride to pull with her. Do you remember, Agatha, how we used toenjoy their wordy combats? I always thought that at the bottom of allher antagonism to him she really liked him; but she never would allowit. '

'I dare say he wonders at her going out alone, ' said Agatha musingly;'she does not say where he is going. I remember he had a great idea ofshielding women from the brunt of life, as he used to call it, and thatwas one thing that Gwen could not stand. '

'What more does she say?' asked Clare. 

'Not much. She says she means to study farming while she is away, andhopes to get valuable hints from Mr. Montmorency, who seems to be aperfect mine of information. '

'One of Gwen's sudden friendships!' observed Clare. 'I only hope itwill last out the voyage!'

She left the room and went to the study, where she spent the rest ofthe morning in trying to copy Mr. Lester's carving on the cupboard. She was very fond of this occupation, and had decorated several littletables and stools. She found Mr. Lester's handiwork a great help toher, and was ambitious of designing a cupboard herself, very much afterthe pattern of the study one. 

As she was tracing a part of the delicate border edging the panels, shesuddenly started, and the thought flashed across her:--

'It must be one of these buds that contains the secret of the lock orspring, and that is the meaning of the words:--

 '"A closed bud containeth Possibilities infinite and unknown. "'

She passed her fingers over some thick buds that hung in festoons alongthe border, and then with finger and thumb she tried to move each onein succession. At last one began to revolve; she turned itbreathlessly, and after three or four revolutions, a sharp click, andthen the panel opened. 

For one minute Clare stayed her hand--irresolute. She had discoveredthe secret, and the contents of the cupboard would be before her eyes. 

Surprise, delight, and a little dismay were mingled in the discovery. Stories that Jane had told her of the mysterious cupboard that somethought contained proofs of a crime, came to her mind. The remembranceof the owner's express wish that it should remain locked, made herhesitate. 

It was a battle between intense curiosity and the sense of honour; butthe latter prevailed. Clare closed the panel hastily, turned round thecarved bud till it was closed, and then walked to the window, turningher back on her temptation. 

She heaved a sigh of relief. 

'I am sure I deserve praise for such virtue. No one can taunt me witha woman's curiosity after this! Now the question is, shall I tell theothers? I don't think I will. It wouldn't do to let the maids getwind of it. I shall write and tell Hugh, of course. How interested hewill be! It was really rather clever of me to find it out, for it is awonderfully ingenious device. And I suppose the old man never dreamtof women deciphering his Arabic characters, much less following theambiguous hint given in his motto. '

And then sitting down at the writing-table, Clare commenced a letter atonce to Captain Knox. Her discovery delighted her, and for the rest ofthe day she was sunshine itself. 

Miss Villars arrived in the afternoon, bringing with her two shy, lankygirls of fourteen and fifteen. 

'I knew you would let me bring two of my visitors, ' she said aside toAgatha; 'they are recovering from influenza. Their father is a curatein Liverpool, and I am trying to feed them up, and get a little colourin their cheeks before they go home again. They are rather shy, but itis such a pleasure for them to be in the country. '

Elfie soon took possession of the girls, and wandered round the gardenwith them, where their tongues unloosed, and they poured forth such aflood of chatter that she had no difficulty in entertaining them. 

'We are having such a lovely time. Miss Villars' house is like one youread of in books. We never thought we should ever stay in one like it. We feel as if we are in fairyland. You see, we are very poor, and onlykeep one servant, and there are seven of us at home, and our house isin a terrace, and smuts, and soot, and dust fly in at the windows allday long. Miss Villars is awfully nice, and she makes us enjoyourselves. At home one feels quite wicked if one reads a storybook, because there are so many of the boys' stockings to be mended, andcooking, and our own lessons in between, for we go to a day school forthree hours every morning. Now here, Miss Villars takes us out in thegarden after breakfast under her shady trees, and puts one of us in ahammock, and the other in an easy chair, and leaves us there with somedelicious books for a couple of hours. And then we see a dainty lunchcoming out to us about eleven o'clock, and we drive and play tennis, and she treats us just like she might her own sisters!'

Elfie, looking at the radiant faces and sparkling eyes of the twodelicate girls, envied Miss Villars the privilege of being able tobring such brightness and happiness into others' lives. 

Meanwhile Clare was having a private talk with her friend, for aftertea Agatha had sped down to the village on one of her benevolenterrands. 

'Have you found the true secret of happiness yet?' asked Miss Villarspresently. 'You look brighter than when I last saw you. '

'I may be brighter now, but I shall have one of my black moods againsoon. No, Miss Villars, I don't think I shall ever be satisfied inthis life. The more I have, the more I want, and you couldn't expectme to be happy with Hugh in Africa!'

She laughed as she spoke, but her smile soon died away. 

'I want him back dreadfully, Miss Villars. I never dreamt I would misshim so much; and I have a horrible feeling that he will not come backat all. I think I should die if he did not! I long sometimes to goout to him. But I can't. I must just wait, and I hate waiting! Inever could wait for anything when I was a child, and it drives menearly wild!'

Clare spoke with such vehemence and passion that for a moment MissVillars thought it best not to speak. Then she said slowly, --

'Poor child! you take life's lessons hardly. And I can't help youexcept by sympathy. There is only One who can, and you will not go toHim for the patience and rest of soul you need. '

Tears filled Clare's blue eyes. She gazed away out of the window up tothe sweet summer sky, and her face grew wistful and sad. 

'I am seeking Him, ' she said in a low voice, 'but it all seems dark, and the Bible seems no help, and prayer a weariness; and then I give uptrying, and try to amuse myself, and make the time pass as best I can. '

Then Miss Villars did a thing which Clare owned to herself that no oneelse but Miss Villars could have done naturally. She took hold ofClare's hand, and with closed eyes and bent head began to pray. 

A very short and simple prayer, but a strange thrill ran through Clareas she realized this was indeed speaking to One who was close to them. And nothing jarred her feelings. She only seemed to be drawn into thevery presence of her Saviour, who with open arms was waiting to receiveand bless her. 

When Miss Villars ceased speaking, Clare's head still remained lowered, and there was perfect silence. It was broken by Elfie's return fromthe garden with the girls; and without a word Clare crept softly awayup to her own room, and Miss Villars left without seeing her again. 

But up in her room Clare was kneeling by her bedside in a passion oftears. 

'O God, help me, help me! I want to be right with Thee, I want thisrest of soul; give it to me. Oh, if Thou art waiting to bless, I amready, I am willing. Forgive me and save me for Christ's sake. Amen. '

She had never prayed so earnestly before. 

CHAPTER XI

Agatha's Legacy

 One by one, bright gifts from Heaven, Joys are sent thee here below; Take them readily when given, Ready, too, to let them go. '--_Adelaide Procter. _

'Why, Agatha, what is the matter? You look quite scared! No bad newsby the post, is it?'

Elfie asked the question one morning as she came into the dining-roomto breakfast, and found Agatha staring out of the window with troubledeyes, and letting the brass kettle boil over on the white tableclothwith the greatest indifference. 

She turned round and faced Elfie with pale cheeks. 

'Mr. Lester is dead. It seems so sudden. He caught cold and died onthe voyage out to Australia. And his lawyer writes to tell me aboutit. '

Elfie looked startled. 

'Must we turn out of the house?'

'That is the strange part of it. The lawyer says he had a visit fromMr. Lester before he went, in which he informed him he was going toleave this house to me unconditionally, and a codicil has been added tohis will to that effect. '

'Why, Agatha, I can hardly believe it! He must have fallen in lovewith you on the spot. Whatever induced him to think of such a thing?'

'I am sure I don't know, unless he was afraid of his cupboard. When Isay he leaves the house to us unconditionally, that is the onlycondition he makes, that we live in the house and keep that cupboardlocked till his son returns, and then let him have the contents. Hetold the lawyer he had left it to me as a trust, and he knew I was awoman of honour, so he would have no anxiety about it. And in returnfor this he bequeaths to us the house for good and all. I wonder whathis son will say to it, if he ever does come back! I hardly know whatto do about it. It seems so very extraordinary!'

But, extraordinary as it was, Agatha found on further correspondencethat it was a fact. The house was legally bequeathed to her; and, after the first excitement of it was over, she thanked God with all herheart that she had now a certain dwelling. She had a great dislike tochange, and was so wedded to the country round her, and had made somany friends amongst the poor, that it had been a secret dread for along time that the owner would return, and they would have to move. She was telling Elfie something of the relief it was to her, when thelatter remarked, --

'Ah, well, Agatha, Nannie's text for you is true: "Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt befed!" You are provided for, at any rate. '

'And don't you find your verse true, too?' asked Agatha quietly. 

Elfie coloured a little, then laughed. 

'Yes, I do; but life is so pleasant that I have had nothing to put myhappiness to the test. '

'And I hope it never need be, ' was Agatha's response. 

Not long after this Agatha was surprised by a visitor one afternoon, and this was no other than Major Lester. 

He bowed stiffly to her when she entered the room. 

'I have heard from my lawyer that the strange report flying about thisneighbourhood is true, ' he began abruptly. 'You will excuse my comingto you to make a few inquiries, but had you any acquaintance with mypoor brother before you came here?'

'None whatever, ' was Agatha's prompt reply. 

'Then he is a perfect stranger to you?'

Agatha hesitated; then she said slowly, --

'I do not suppose it will matter now my mentioning it, but Mr. Lestercame here about a month ago. '

Major Lester looked astonished. 

'I was unaware that my brother had been in England at all since hisvisit abroad; but he always was most erratic. And may I ask why hisvisit was to be kept a mystery?'

'I don't think there was any mystery about it. He simply asked me notto mention it. '

'Did he leave no message for me? May I ask his errand?'

'He left no message. '

Agatha was dignity itself. She was going to reveal nothing more, andMajor Lester saw as much, and resented it accordingly. 

'Well, I see you and my brother came to some understanding together;and, I suppose, this freak of his is the result. '

Then, pulling himself up, as he felt his temper was getting the betterof him, he added, more blandly, 'Pray do not think I object to you aspermanent neighbours. If I had any ladies in my household, they wouldhave called on you before this. I came to you this morning becausethere is a locked cupboard of my brother's, which, as his nearestrelative, I presume I have a right to open. I believe there are familypapers in it of great importance. Perhaps you will kindly allow me togo into the study at once, as I am rather pressed for time. '

'I am sorry to have to refuse you, Major Lester, but I promised yourbrother that that cupboard should remain closed till his son came toopen it. '

Major Lester glared at her, but Agatha maintained her quiet composure. 

'He must have been as mad as a hatter!' he muttered; then turnedangrily to her. 

'And may I ask when my nephew is to be back, as you seem fullyconversant with the affairs of our family?'

'I do not know. Your brother thought he would return this year. Haveyou heard anything of your son?'

'My son has met his death by the hands of my nephew, at the instigationof his father! I warn you, Miss Dane, you may suffer the penalty ofthe law by refusing to let me have access to that cupboard. It is amere question of time. If my nephew does not return soon, I shallinsist upon having it opened, and I shall bring a lawyer with me toenforce my authority! I will not detain you longer now. Good-morning!' And Major Lester took his leave literally tremblingwith passion; so Agatha told her sisters afterwards. 

'It is very unpleasant for us, ' she added; 'I feel quite anxious lestMajor Lester should insist upon having his way. '

'Have you nothing in writing from Mr. Lester himself about it?' askedClare; 'I thought the lawyer sent you a written statement by him. '

'Yes, I have that; and, after all, the house is mine, and I supposethat includes the cupboard. '

'Of course it does. What did Mr. Lester say about the cupboard?'

'That it was not to be opened till his son came; and in this paper hebequeaths to me a certain portfolio of his that is in it. He says Ican make what use I like of the contents. But of course I shall notget that till his son appears. '

'It is very romantic altogether, ' said Clare; then, trying to speakindifferently, she added: 'Does Major Lester know how to open thecupboard, Agatha? I fancy it is not a very easy task. '

'I don't know, ' said Agatha; 'perhaps he does not. In that case it issafe. '

And she thought with satisfaction of her sealed envelope safe at thebottom of her dressing-case. 'Well, ' she added, after a pause, 'I amnot going to worry over it. One must just do what is right, and leavethe result. '

'But, ' said Clare dreamily, 'supposing there is a hidden crime in thatcupboard--papers that tell of the whereabouts of Major Lester'sson--should we be right in keeping it hidden? Supposing I were to finda way to open that cupboard, Agatha, should I be wrong in doing it?'

Agatha looked startled. 

'What do you mean? Are you trying to open it, Clare? I should hopeyou would not be so dishonourable. It is given as a charge to us. Infact, it is the condition of our keeping this house. And do you thinkanything would make it right for us to betray such a trust? I know anhonest, upright man when I see him, and Mr. Lester was that, whateverMajor Lester may be!'

Clare laughed a little confusedly. 

'You are getting quite excited. I never said I intended opening it. Iwish this wandering son would come back. Couldn't we advertise forhim?'

Their conversation was here interrupted by another visitor, and thiswas Miss Miller. 

She came hurriedly and breathlessly in, pulling out the bows of herbonnet-strings, which was a way of hers when excited. 

'Miss Dane, what is the meaning of this? No; I cannot stay to sitdown. I'm off to a committee meeting in Brambleton, for the "FriendlyGirls. " The pony cart is waiting at the top of the lane. I have justmet Major Lester. He is terribly put out by his visit here. Would nottell me particulars, but said you were siding with his nephew, who washiding from the hands of justice, and refused him admittance into hisbrother's study. You are new-comers, my dear, and this will not do. How did you get acquainted with Mr. Lester? The major says he has beenpaying you secret visits. Very improper--single young women cannot betoo careful. Why have you been keeping it a mystery? And what is itall about? And what is the secret of this mysterious cupboard?'

'That I cannot tell you, Miss Miller, ' said Agatha, answering only thelast of her questions; 'for I do not know it myself. '

'But you know something! We are not accustomed to mysteries here, andthe major is an upright man, and a regular churchgoer, and his brotherwas a ne'er-do-well, But we won't say anything against him now, poorman! Only I assure you, you will make yourselves the talk of theneighbourhood if you three unmarried women scrape acquaintance with hisson, and espouse his cause with such hot vehemence!'

'Miss Miller, ' said Clare, with burning cheeks, 'you have no businessto say such things of us; we have given you no cause to do so!'

Miss Miller just nodded her head up and down excitedly. 

'I say just what I like, my dear, and no one is to dictate to me as tomy manner of speech, least of all a young chit of a girl who knowsnothing of life!'

Then Elfie came to the rescue, whilst Clare flounced out of the room ingreat indignation. 

'Don't be cross with us, Miss Miller, ' she said, in her pretty coaxingway. 'Major Lester left us when very angry, and you mustn't believeall he said about us. '

But Miss Miller would not be appeased, and she left very soon, declaring that it was all very 'strange indeed, and most mysterious, 'and that 'people who could not be straightforward, and made their ownplans without reference to their spiritual guide, were a great trial tohave in the neighbourhood!'

'It really seems, ' said Agatha, with a weary sigh, 'that Mr. Lester'slegacy will prove anything but a blessing! I do wish people wouldleave us alone. ' But a short time afterwards Major Lester's wrath andMiss Miller's strong partisanship in his cause were quite eclipsed by agreater trouble. 

Agatha took in _The Times_, and it was generally delivered at theirhouse about twelve o'clock in the morning, by the postmistress's littleboy, directly he came home from school. 

One morning Clare met him at the gate, and opened it herself. She wasfeeling anxious and uneasy. For the first time Captain Knox had missedthe mail, and she was full of gloomy forebodings. 

Agatha was tying up some straggling rose branches in the verandah, andElfie practising away in the drawing-room. 

'Any news, Clare?' Agatha asked carelessly. 

There was no answer. She looked up. Clare slowly came towards her, paper in hand. She was in a fresh white dress, with a bunch of crimsonroses in her belt, her golden hair shining in the sun, but her face wasas white as her dress itself, and she stared at Agatha as if she didnot see her. Agatha dropped her hammer and nails with a crash to theground. 

'What is it, Clare? anything about Gwen?' she asked, in frightenedtones. 

Clare handed her the paper without a word, and still gazed before her, as if she were in a dream. 

Agatha soon found it. Only a terse, short telegram, mentioning thatreports of a massacre of a surveying party had just reached the Africancoast, and it was feared that none had escaped alive. 

Captain Knox's name was amongst those of the party. 

'It is only a report, ' faltered Agatha. 

'I know it is true, ' said Clare steadily; and then she passed Agathaby, and went up to her room. 

She locked her door, and seated herself in an easy chair by her windowwith the calmness of despair. 

'He is dead, he is murdered, and he will never come back! I shallnever see him again, and my life is at an end with his!'

These thoughts burnt themselves into her brain. 

She leant out of her window, and gazed over the sunny meadows, noticingthe smoke appearing from Patty's chimney, and a flock of swallowsflying through it. Then she watched the motions of a frisky colt inthe next field, and wondered if life seemed one long bright holiday tohim. 

And then crushing her roses up in one hand, she flung them out of thewindow. 

'What are roses and sunshine to me now?' she thought passionately, herwhole soul swelling in protest at the black cloud enveloping her. 'What a bitter mockery this peaceful scenery is, when one remembers theawful fate that has fallen on Hugh and me!'

And then bending her head in her arms, she laid them on the lowwindow-sill, and sobs began to come that shook her from head to foot. Dry, tearless sobs they were at first, and she got up and paced herroom in hot rebellion. 

'It is cruel--cruel of God! He does not care! He might have let mehave him back, when I was trying to be a true Christian! Such an awfuldeath! Oh, Hugh, Hugh! my heart is broken!'

She seized hold of a cabinet photo that stood on her dressing-table. It was Captain Knox in his regimentals; and as his frank, fearless gazemet hers, the flood of her tears was loosed, and they came thick andfast, relieving her brain, but exhausting all her strength by theirvehemence. Luncheon time came, but no one could get her out of herroom, and Agatha wisely let her alone. At five o'clock she tried herdoor again, and this time Clare unlocked it, and met her on thethreshold with tumbled hair, flushed face, and defiant eyes. 

'What do you want? Can't you leave me alone?'

'Oh, Clare darling, how I wish I could comfort you! You will be ill ifyou don't take any food. Will you not have a cup of tea?'

Agatha's eyes were red with crying, and her lips quivered as she spoke. She laid her hand gently on Clare's arm, but it was shaken off, andClare turned her back upon her and walked to the window. 

Then she burst forth passionately. 

'I am not surprised! I knew when he went he would never come backagain. I believe it is this house that is a curse to us! I alwaysfelt from the first night we entered it that it would bring us trouble;and why I am to be the victim I don't know! I hate and loathe it!Leave me alone. You needn't be afraid of my starving myself. I wish Icould; but I have got to live, and I shall have to drag through it asbest I can. There is no chance of my dying of a broken heart. Peoplenever do. I shall outlive you all, I expect. What are you waitingfor? Do you want me to come downstairs?'

'No, I have some tea for you here. '

And Agatha disappeared, to bring in a dainty little meal on a tray. 

As she put it down she said slowly: 'I wonder if you know where to takeyour trouble, Clare? God Himself will comfort you, if you let Him. '

'You needn't waste your breath in uttering platitudes, Agatha. I knowthat is the correct thing to say, but it doesn't do me an atom ofgood. ' And Agatha left her with a sigh, and went to her own room topray for her, and to ask that her trouble should soften, and notharden, her heart against the only Comforter. 

CHAPTER XII

Out in California

 'A woman will, or won't, depend on't; If she will do't, she will, and there's an end on't. '

On the wooden verandah of Walter Dane's ranch in Southern Californiasat Gwen one evening, enjoying the orange-flamed sunset in front ofher. And lounging opposite her, smoking his pipe, was Walter--agood-looking young fellow, whose usual expression was supremegood-humour, but whose brow now was furrowed with anxious thought. 

'You see, Gwen, ' he said, knocking the ashes out of his pipe, andramming in a fresh supply of tobacco in a slow, meditative fashion, 'ithas been very good of you to come out and look me up. I've beenlonging for a sight of my own flesh and blood for years, and if I wasonly a sight better off, I'd offer you a home for good. '

'That I would not take, with many thanks, ' said Gwen, laughing. 'Nowcome, ever since I arrived I have seen you have had something on yourmind, so unburden! What is it?'

Walter looked across the great sweep of uncultivated ground outside hisranch to the landmark of another ranch in the distance--a windmillwhich pumped up the water necessary for use from a great depth below. 

'You saw the Setons yesterday. What did you think of them?'

As he asked the question he pulled at his heavy moustache rathernervously. 

'I thought they were wonderfully nice people for colonials. The girlis a pretty little thing. '

'They are not colonials, ' her brother returned quickly; 'at least, notmore than I am: for they haven't been in this country as long. Metaonly came out a couple of years ago. She was educated at home inBrighton. '

'Was she?'

Gwen was looking at her brother with keen eyes now. There was silencefor a minute, then Walter said in a very quiet voice, --

'We have been engaged, she and I, for a twelvemonth, and the wedding isfixed some time next month. '

Another dead silence, then Gwen said, with a little laugh, 'Well, I amsurprised. I did not think you were a marrying man. You never gave usa hint of this in your letters home. '

'No; for I foresaw a long engagement, and thought it might be deemedrash. '

'And how do you intend to support a wife?'

'I can manage it now. My ground is improving. The great difficulty inthis part of the country is want of water, and I have overcome that. Of course, it will be hard work for some time yet, but Meta knows whatthe life will be like, and an aunt in England has lately died, and lefther a legacy. She does not come to me portionless!'

Gwen gazed in front of her with compressed lips. She would not showher consternation and discomfiture to her brother, though to herselfshe was saying, 'I made a mistake in coming out to him!'

Aloud she said, --

'Well, I suppose I must congratulate you. And I will not stay out hereafter your marriage; you will have one of your family at the ceremony, which ought to comfort you. '

'You will like her as a sister, will you not?' asked Walter, withanxiety in his eyes, as he turned and faced his sister. 

'Oh yes. I thought she was a nice little thing. Not much character, Isuppose; but you men prefer that style of woman. She struck me as alady. '

'Rather!' And with a short laugh Walter put his beloved pipe in hismouth, and with a sigh of relief at getting through his news, sank intoa lounge chair, prepared to give his full confidence to his sister, nowthat the worst was over. 

But Gwen disappointed him by rising carelessly from her seat. 

'I am very tired. Your early hours here make the day interminable. Good-night. '

She passed into the house humming the air of a song, but once in herroom her expression changed. 

'He will marry and have a large family, and only just make his farmingpay to support them all. He has no ambition, no desire to make hisfortune and come back to England. It means a thorough colonial lifefor always. Oh, what fools men are!'

She paced her room with clenched hands. 

'I never dreamt of such a thing. I came out here to shake him up, tomake him better himself. And I find he is perfectly content, andconsiders my coming a decided nuisance, though he doesn't like to sayso. He can barely afford to live comfortably himself, and yet hemeditates a speedy marriage. I should like to postpone it. I supposeif I asked him to let me stay out here for three or four months and lethis marriage wait till after I left him, he might agree, but then whatshould I gain by that? I want him to give up this farming, which willnever make his fortune; but if he has a wife in view he will cling toit! How I wish he had heard Mr. Montmorency talk of the certainty offinding fresh goldfields, if only men of push and a certain amount ofmoney could be forthcoming! I will not let my journey out here be allin vain! Walter must be roused, and made to do something better withhis life than his present existence. I wish Mr. Montmorency would payus a visit soon. He would advise him for his good. He says thiscountry is teeming with riches under the surface, only colonists areoften content with so little that they do not develop half theresources so close to them. After all, it won't hurt that girl to waitanother year longer. She looks a simple, stupid little thing; and ifWalter can be got to postpone his marriage, we may be able to dosomething with him yet. '

As Gwen thus cogitated, the scene in the cottage garden at home camebefore her, when she found Patty Howitt locked out by her irate sister, and her words flashed across her with clear distinctness now, --

'If I'm kept out here till dark, I'll maintain a promised wife comesbefore a sister!'

A shadow crossed Gwen's determined face at this recollection. 

'It is not a case of me or the promised wife, ' she muttered to herselfwith a little laugh. 'I would willingly go home again at once andleave the young couple to themselves, but it is of their future that Iam thinking; and they will thank me in the end for it, I know. '

Not a doubt crossed her mind of the wisdom or expediency of trying toupset her brother's plans and purposes. She knew what influence shepossessed over him. His was a placid, rather weak nature, true andsteadfast in his dealings with others, and quite capable of holding hisown as long as he kept in a certain groove; but for a man he wasstrangely uncertain and distrustful of himself, and one who alwaysfound it easier to take advice than to give it. 

Gwen had a restless night. Her head was full of plans, and when thenext morning there was a stir outside the house, and she was told thata 'strange gentleman and lady' had arrived, she was quite enough versedin colonial ways to show no surprise when she went out upon theverandah and greeted 'Mr. And Mrs. Montmorency. '

Walter was a capital host, and was genuinely pleased to see any friendsof his sister. And Gwen felt that fortune had indeed favoured her, andsent to her aid the very one who could help best at this crisis. 

Mr. Montmorency inspired most people with confidence, and it was notlong before he was deep in discussions of the country with Walter, telling him many valuable facts about agriculture that had come underhis own observation, and from that drifting on to talk of the mineralwealth that had as yet hardly been touched. 

He remembered the gold rush in Northern California, and prophesied thesame would take place in the part they were in. Walter listened, butsaid little, and even when Mr. Montmorency went on to unfold a schemeof his shortly to be put into project, he showed little interest. 

'It is very well for men of means to venture on such undertakings. Itwants capital, and there are few about here who would risk theirhardly-earned savings on a speculation which might fail. '

Then Gwen, with her clear head and quick brain, took the matter up. Even bright little Mrs. Montmorency could talk well on the subject, andfor the next few days little else was mentioned but a certain region afew hundreds of miles away, where Mr. Montmorency intended to beginoperations, and where he had already found proof enough of theexistence of gold to make it worth his while to start a company and setto work in earnest. 

The next mail that left for England contained the following letter fromGwen to Agatha;--

'DEAREST AGATHA, --

'This is purely a business letter, and a very important one. I havetold you all about Walter and his surroundings already, so will not gointo that again. Mr. Montmorency has been staying with us. He is aclever, able man, very well connected, a nephew of Lord D----, and hasspent most of his life out here. He is starting a company for workinga gold-mine in this neighbourhood. There is a certain prospect of itsbeing a grand success. I send you a bundle of prospectuses and papers, which I want you to look carefully through. I know how cautious youare where investments are concerned, and, of course, one cannot be toocareful. You will see the directors are all wealthy men, and theirnames well known at home. Show the papers to old Mr. Watkins if youlike, and if you're afraid of acting without legal advice. Now I cometo the point. Mr. Montmorency has taken a great liking to Walter. Hesays he is too good to rust in this part as he is doing, and waste thebest years of his life in slaving to earn a livelihood, with noprospect of anything better in years to come. And he has asked him tojoin him in his undertaking, and become an active partner in theconcern. I won't waste time by going into it all, but it is a grandchance for Walter, and he is certain to make his fortune. The onecondition is that he must have capital to invest. He is going to sellhis farm, but that will not bring in much. What I propose is that wefour should invest our capital in this. Hand it over to Walter, andthen Mr. Montmorency will be able to take him into the concern. Weshall not lose, but be gainers by this. Mr. Montmorency can assure us5 per cent. Interest from the first, and that is more than we aregetting now. There is not the slightest risk or speculation in thematter, and Walter is fortunate to have found such a friend in Mr. Montmorency. I have already promised my portion. Talk it over withClare and Elfie, and show them that it will not only be benefitingthemselves, but will be the making of Walter. 

'I must tell you that he is engaged to be married to a very nice girlout here, and she is going to invest a legacy of hers in the samecompany. Every one round here has the greatest confidence in Mr. Montmorency. He is still staying with us, and Walter quite enjoys hissociety. If you want any more information about the company, you canget it by applying at their office in London. I do hope, for Walter'ssake, that you will not be long in making up your minds. It seems sowonderfully fortunate that I should have come out in the same steamerwith the Montmorencys. The mail is going. I must stop. If Waltergets the capital he needs, he will go off with Mr. Montmorency to thecentre of operations next month, and I shall then return home. I maytell you that he was thinking of getting married shortly, but he andMeta Seton have wisely settled to postpone it until he has a goodincome. I believe myself that he will soon be a rich man. If he is, Ishall be well repaid for my journey out here. Love to all. Will writeagain soon. 

'Your affectionate sister, 'GWEN. '

CHAPTER XIII

His Last Message

 I hold it true whate'er befall, I feel it when I sorrow most: ''Tis better to have loved and lost Than never to have loved at all. '--_Tennyson. _

This letter reached Agatha soon after the sad news had come to Clare ofCaptain Knox's death. At first his relatives hoped there might be somemistake, but when further details came to hand, they corroborated thefirst tidings received, and some weeks after his baggage was sent home, and as much information was given to his sorrowing relatives as couldbe gleaned from the one or two survivors of the fated party. 

His mother wrote kindly to Clare, and gave her as much information asshe had herself received, but that was not much. The little party hadbeen surprised one day when out surveying, and were shot down one afterthe other by an unfriendly tribe who surrounded them. Two escaped totell the tale, but when a punitive force was sent out at once, therewere no signs of the fray. The enemy had carried off the bodies oftheir victims, and escaped beyond the reach of justice. 

For days Clare was almost beside herself with grief, and in despairAgatha sent over for Miss Villars. 

'She is so fond of you, that you may be able to comfort her as wecannot, ' said Agatha, when Miss Villars promptly arrived on the scene. Miss Villars shook her head sadly. 

'No human comfort is of much use in a case like this, ' she said; butshe went upstairs, and remained two hours with Clare, and when she leftClare begged her to come to her again. 

'You do me good. You make me think there is a God, after all. I havebeen doubting everything. I feel it is a judgment on all my discontentand bad temper. I often used to tire of him, and wish he weredifferent; and now I feel it would be heaven itself to see him standingbefore me as he used to do!'

To her sisters Clare preserved a stolid, impassive demeanour. Shewould not leave the house for three weeks after the tidings had come, and then unfortunately meeting Miss Miller, she was subjected toquestionable sympathy. 

'Very glad to see you out, my dear. Why haven't you been to churchlately? It's a very bad sign to keep away from the means of grace whenin trouble. Have you heard the particulars of Captain Knox's death? Ihope you are quite certain about it, you seem to have gone intomourning very quickly. In cases like this there are often mistakesmade. Was the body identified? Well--well, I am very sorry for you;but you would have felt it more if you had been his wife!'

Clare turned and fled from her, and stayed away from church for a monthlonger, then only going at Agatha's most earnest request. 

When Gwen's letter was received, and Clare heard the contents, she saidlistlessly, --

'Walter can have my money if he likes; it will make no difference tome. You can write to Mr. Watkins, and get him to see to it, Agatha. '

'And mine, too, ' put in Elfie brightly. 'Gwen has a good head forbusiness, and if she is going to venture hers, I am sure we can ours. '

But cautious Agatha shook her head, and spread the papers out beforeher with a grave and anxious face. Then she disappeared for a shorttime. She knelt at her bedside and asked for guidance about such animportant step. And when she rose from her knees she thought sadlythat Gwen had planned and purposed without prayer, and wondered if shewere too intent upon her own schemes to be wise in her judgment anddecisions. 

'I am going up to town to talk it over with Mr. Watkins, ' sheannounced, a short time afterwards. 'I do not wish to be ill-natured, and selfish, and prevent Walter from getting on, but I have a horror ofthese gold-mining companies; and if it should come to a crash, weshould literally have nothing left. Of course, you must do as youplease, only don't act hastily. Let me hear what Mr. Watkins says. '

So to town she went, and came back very tired, but quite decided in herown mind. Mr. Watkins had not scoffed at the company. He had heard agood deal about it, and had clients who were taking shares in it. Hethought it might prove a very good speculation, and there were soundbusiness men backing it up. 'But, ' said Agatha, 'he said mostemphatically that it was a speculation, and that no one could bepositively certain of its success; and, after a great deal ofconsideration, I have made up my mind to have nothing to do with it. '

'Did Mr. Watkins advise your not having anything to do with it?' askedElfie. 

'No; he was quite neutral. He would not commit himself either way. '

The result was that Clare and Elfie transferred their capital to Mr. Montmorency's company, trusting entirely to the assurances of theprospectuses that their dividends would be paid within the firsttwelvemonth. 

And Agatha had the unpleasant task of writing her refusal to Walter, who had written by the same mail as Gwen, painting his future inglowing colours, and loud in praise of Mr. Montmorency. 

'Clare, ' said Elfie one afternoon, coming into the study, where Clarewas reading in a dreary manner, 'come and see Deb and Patty with me, will you? Agatha wants some honey, and we haven't seen anything ofthem for ages!'

Clare put down her poetry-book with a sigh, but said she would go, andthey were soon sauntering over the meadows to Beehive Cottage, as itwas called by the villagers. 

They found both sisters at home, and Deb was busy remaking two merinoskirts for herself and Patty. 

''Tis not very often I do dressmakin' at home, but we're gettin' rathershabby, and so I'm turnin' our Sunday bests. Sit down, young ladies, and Patty will get you a glass o' milk. '

'And how is your sister gettin' on over the sea?' asked Patty, when shehad brought the milk and taken a seat opposite her visitors. 'Deb andme often wonders of her, and how she be likin' it. '

'Oh, she is all right--very busy, making us send our money out toinvest in a gold-mine. '

'To buy a gold-mine!' ejaculated Deb. 

'No; to put our money in it. '

'Ay; why the need for buryin' it down so deep? The earth iseverywhere; it be a safe bank, 'tis true, but safer close to one, thanin furrin parts, it seems to me. '

Patty spoke emphatically in her breathless manner; and Elfie laughedoutright. 

'No, she doesn't want us to bury it. We have taken shares in a companythat is working the gold-mine. '

Deb and Patty shook their heads doubtfully over this statement. 

'The company pickin' up gold is generally a low, bad set, ' said Deb. 'I heard tell at Squire Johnson's of a young gentleman who was nighmurdered by a rascally set of men, and all because of gold in hispocket. Gold ofttimes brings a curse, my dears; 'tis best to spend asyou goes. And if so be as you put a little by for your burial, well, the earth won't tell tales, and a flower will mark the spot. Did Iever tell you o' my great-gran'mother's money pot?'

'No, ' said Clare, with interest, for any old tale delighted her; 'tellit to us now. '

'Great-gran'mother were livin' alone, and gran'mother, she were marriedfour mile off, and used to come in on market days, and see the oldlady. Great-gran'mother, she were rather snappy and short, and one dayshe says to gran'mother, "Sally, my girl, when you come to want, pullup a yaller marigold by the roots"; and gran'mother, she laughs, andsays she, "What old wife talk be that, mother? Do marigolds bringluck?" Great-gran'mother, she died soon after, and gran'mother weresore disappointed not to find a few shillin's tied up in a stockin'. The cottage were sold, but gran'father bought it hisself, and movedinto it with his family; and years passed, and then gran'father, hedied of a fever, and gran'mother brought up eleven boys and girls wi'credit. But times got bad, and she were left wi' a cripple daughter, and the t'others scattered away from her, and work failed her, and theywere close on comin' to the House. Gran'mother, she had selled most onher furniture, and there were at last but a crust o' bread in theplace, and she were makin' tea-kettle broth--for she were Devonshire, and they folk is great at that--when all on a sudden, as she werea-sayin', "Now, Alice, this be our last meal in this dear place, " thewords of great-gran'mother come surgin' and rushin' through her brain. "Sally, my girl, when you come to want, pull up a yaller marigold bythe roots!" and with a hop and a skip, though she were turnedseventy-five, she goes straight down the garden, and tugs at a fineyaller marigold. It took a power o' strength to pull it up; and thereto the bottom o' the roots was a pot. She pulled of it up, and it werefull o' silver and gold, and kept her and her daughter in ease for everafter. '

'Till they went to the grave, ' put in Patty solemnly. 

'And do you bury your savings?' asked Elfie, laughing. 

Deb looked at Patty, and Patty looked at Deb with grave consideration. Then Deb spoke:

'There is things we can't just confide to every one, young ladies. Will you be havin' a taste of Patty's hot cake before you leave? It'sjust time for it to be comin' out of the oven!'

Patty bustled forward to procure it. Nothing pleased the old womenmore than to show hospitality to any visitors who came to see them. 

While the cake was being got ready, Clare went out to look at thebeehives with Deb. 

They chatted over them for a few minutes, and then Deb put her handgently on Clare's arm. 

'We've heard o' your sad loss, my dear, and our old hearts have achedfor you. 'Tis a heavy cross to have the hope of bein' a happy wifesnatched away, and a lone and loveless spinster's lot insteadstretchin' out in front o' you. 'Tis a long and weary road for youngfeet to travel!'

Poor Clare burst into tears. She could not bear, as yet, to bereminded of her trouble. 

'Don't talk of it, Deb, ' she said between her sobs; 'it only makes itworse. '

'Ay, ay, ' said the old woman, wiping a sympathetic tear away from herown eye with the corner of her apron; 'ye'll be feelin' it sore for atime. But the good Lord will comfort you, if no one else will. '

'It is so dreadful to have to live, whether you like it or not, ' saidClare, in that little burst of confidence she sometimes showed tostrangers, though never to her sisters. 

'But seems as if it would not be easier to die if one left the workthat has been set us to others to finish, ' said Deb gravely. 

'I have no work at all, ' Clare responded quickly, almost passionately. 'I could have been a good wife--I hope I could--but there's nothingleft me now; no one wants me, and there's nothing to do, and I'm sickof everybody and everything!'

'I'm no preacher, ' said Deb meditatively, 'and I don't live a saintlylife, so it's no good my settin' myself above my fellows, but Patty andme has our Bibles out once every weekday, and most of all Sundays we'rereadin' it, so I'll make so bold as to pass you a verse that I did apowerful lot of thinkin' over last Sunday. 'Tis this, and maybe, withyour quick, eddicated brain, you'll take it in quicker nor Idid--"Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering, with joyfulness. " Maybe that'syour work just at present, my dear. Shall we go in now?'

Clare's eyes shone through her tears. Slowly and dimly she was seeinglight through her darkness. Miss Villars had done much to help her. But nothing seemed to have shown her the grandeur of suffering as thisone verse, uttered in slow, halting accents by an uncultured woman. She never forgot it. The verse--God's message to her--was then andthere engraved upon her heart; and though she had not yet found her'rightful resting-place, ' though she was still alternately halting andgroping her way towards the Light, yet the possibilities of a noblelife, a life in the midst of crushing sorrow, such as represented byDeb's text, had a wonderful attraction for her. She was very silentall the way home that afternoon, and shut herself into the study forsome hours' more reading; but this time her poems were laid aside, andthe Bible had taken their place. It was only a day or two after thatshe had a great joy. 

She received a little parcel from Mrs. Knox, containing a smallTestament, a gift of her own to her lover, and inside a letteraddressed to her in his handwriting. It had been written just beforethat fatal day when he had sallied forth so unthinkingly to his death. 

'MY DARLING, --

'Just a line to-night, for I may not have much time to write againbefore the mail. We are off into the bush tomorrow on one of ourbusiness expeditions. How I have longed lately for our work to bedone, and the steamer to be bringing me back to you! I have beenhaving grave talks lately with one of our fellows who is a religiouschap. It has brought vividly before me your sweet gravity in thequaint old study that last night we spent together just before I left, when you told me that you thought we both might have more comfort if wehad more religion. Do you remember? What will you say when I tell youthat I have found out that you are right? I cannot express myself, darling, as I should wish, but I can tell you that your littleTestament is my best friend. I have discovered that religion issomething more than a head belief. And here, in the stillness of mytent, I confess----'

This was all. He had evidently broken off hurriedly, and the letterhad found its way to Clare to give her its unfinished message of hope. She bowed her head over it in the silence of her room, and then down onher knees she dropped in a burst of thankfulness for the mercy andtenderness shown her in letting her receive such a message. Allrebellion and mistrust faded away, and in true humility and penitenceClare was enabled to take the final step towards the realization ofthat peace she had longed for all her life--that peace that only comesto a soul that has truly sought and found its Saviour. 

CHAPTER XIV

The Cousins' Return

 ''Tis sweet to hear the watch-dog's honest bark Bay deep-mouthed welcome as we draw near home; 'Tis sweet to know there is an eye will mark Our coming, and look brighter when we come. '--_Byron. _

'Agatha! Clare! I have had an adventure! Where are you? Oh, hereyou are; now listen!'

Elfie ran breathlessly into the house one afternoon in greatexcitement. She had been for a walk, and had come in late for tea. Agatha was writing letters at her davenport in the drawing-room, andClare was still toying with her cup of tea. A book was in her lap, buther thoughts were far away. Her face still wore its sad and somewhatwistful look; yet there was gradually dawning upon it the sense ofrepose and rest. Her sisters noted the old fretfulness andrestlessness had gone out of her tones, and whilst Elfie wondered, Agatha rejoiced that trouble had not hardened or embittered her. 

Elfie threw herself into a seat, looking the picture of health andfresh young beauty. 

'I have been to the pine woods, ' she began eagerly, 'and I wasrejoicing in my solitude, and walking along through the very darkestpart, when I heard voices coming towards me. I wondered if it wouldturn out to be Major Lester and any of his friends, for I knew he had aprivate gate into the wood from his grounds. So, not wanting to meetany one, I turned down a side path, and then if you please came plumpagainst the very man I wanted to avoid--Major Lester himself. He quitestarted when he saw me, but took off his hat and tried to be civil. You know I have been introduced to him at the Millers'. I apologisedif I were trespassing, and then he said with a little bow, "I do notwish to keep my neighbours at a distance, Miss Dane; you are welcome touse any foot-path through my woods. I have no secrets on my property, I am thankful to say!" I thought that rather nasty of him, for I knewhe meant our cupboard, but I murmured something polite, and was justgoing to turn back, when the voices I had heard came nearer, andsuddenly two strange young men came down the path in front of us. Youshould have seen Major Lester's face; he stared as if he couldn'tbelieve his eyes, and his hand resting on his stick trembled as if hehad the palsy. Then he made a step forward, --

"Roger, my boy, is it you, or do my eyes play me false?"

'Before I could get away, one young man said in a most emphatic voice, and rather sternly too, I thought, "I have brought him back to you, uncle, and he will tell you for himself whether my poor father or I hadany hand in his disappearance!" Then I made my escape; I heard themall talking at once. Isn't it exciting? The lost ones have come back. I think they had walked from Brambleton station--taken the short cutthrough the woods. They looked as if they had roughed it. Soweather-beaten and worn!'

'This is an excitement, ' Agatha said, turning round from her writing;'what is Alick Lester like, Elfie?'

'Oh, I didn't notice, I hadn't time. They were both tall, broad-shouldered men in rough shooting clothes, I think. Do you thinkthey will be paying us a visit, Agatha?'

'I suppose Mr. Alick Lester will, ' and Agatha's face assumed rather ananxious expression, as she remembered her charge. 

'Where is he going to live, I wonder?' said Clare; 'it may seem to himthat we are usurpers. Do you think he knows about his father's legacyto you, Agatha?'

Agatha shook her head doubtfully. 

'I don't know. I suppose his lawyer will have told him, if he has beento see him. I expect he will stay up at the Hall. Major Lester wouldbe hard-hearted indeed if he did not make him welcome after finding hislong-lost son!'

The next morning the whole village was in excitement with the news. Miss Miller tore here and there, pulling at her bonnet strings, andquite incoherent in her speech. 

'The vicar is asking Alick to put up with us, ' she said, meeting Agathaout. 'It is very trying for him, poor fellow, to find both his fatherand home taken from him, and it's not to be expected that he would staylong at the Hall, and if his father hadn't died, you wouldn't be whereyou are, and I suppose we did misunderstand him; but if he had come tochurch regularly he would have found us his friends, and what he willdo now I can't think! I can't stop a minute; I must see Major Lesterbefore our quarterly meeting about church expenses, which takes placethis afternoon at two o'clock; and I have just remembered that thebed-hangings of the spare room bed are at the laundry, and if Alick isto sleep there to night I must superintend the cleaning of the roommyself!'

Agatha smiled as she returned home, and wondered if there was anythingin the vicarage or parish that Miss Miller did not superintend. 

Early in the afternoon Clare, who was doing a little gardening, wasstartled by the sudden appearance of Agatha in the greatest distress ofmind, and quite shaken out of her usual composure. 

'Oh, Clare, whatever shall I do? I have lost a most important littlepacket, and I am dreadfully afraid it has been stolen from me. '

'What packet?'

'A small packet Mr. Lester gave to me. I did not say anything aboutit, because he did not wish me to. I put it in my dressing-case, whichalways stands on my dressing-table, and I placed it in the secretdrawer. The drawer is empty, and the paper gone. I was to give it tohis son when he returned, and I promised to keep it safely. I cannotimagine what can have become of it! What shall I do? I wonder how anyone could have found it. It is a perfect mystery to me!'

'You must have forgotten where you put it, ' said Clare; 'let me comeand look. It is quite impossible for any one to have stolen it. '

But Clare's search was quite as unsuccessful as Agatha's, and thelatter became almost tearful in her agitation and distress. 

'Mr. Alick Lester will be sure to call, and it was his father's wish heshould open the cupboard. How can he do it, when I have lost thedirections?'

'Is that all the packet contained?' asked Clare, looking relieved. 'Ihad no idea you possessed the key to it! How quiet you have kept it!And now I will surprise you by telling you that I have found out myselfthe way to open that cupboard, so am quite independent of any writteninstructions!'

Agatha certainly was surprised, and though thankful when Clare relatedher experience to her, did not feel more at ease. 

'I have been careless of my charge, ' she said. 'What will Mr. Alickthink of me? And it is alarming to think that some one has gotpossession of the secret. They may have opened the cupboard already, for all I know, or may be going to do it this very night. I wonder ifour maids are to be trusted! Perhaps Jane has been tampering with mycase. '

'I am sure she wouldn't. You don't walk in your sleep, do you?'

Agatha gave a little laugh. 

'No, you know I do not. I remember looking at it only a week ago, andputting it carefully back again. '

'Was any one in the room when you did it?'

'No--at least Jane came in, I remember, for she startled me, but shewould never know what it was. '

There was silence; then Agatha said more slowly, 'It does look rathersuspicious, now I have remembered about Jane, because she has been suchfriends lately with Major Lester's valet. You know she always walkshome from church with him. Elfie was laughing about it, and saying shehad soon picked up a follower. '

'I don't see the connection between those two threads, ' said Clare, 'unless you think Major Lester is a thief himself!'

'I don't know what I think, ' said Agatha hopelessly, sitting down on achair, and looking the picture of woe; 'I only know I have lost what Ipromised to keep safely, and I know that Major Lester's great desirehas been to get at that cupboard. We won't say anything about it tothe maids, Clare, but I will write a little note to Mr. Alick, askinghim to come and see me the first thing to-morrow morning. I will tellhim exactly what has happened, and then with your help he can open thecupboard, and we shall no longer have the responsibility of it. '

With this wise decision Agatha brightened up, and Clare, who lovednothing better than a mystery, grew quite animated in discussing thematter, and offering her advice. Elfie was taken into counsel, and thethree resolved to say nothing till they laid the facts before AlickLester. 

One of the maids was despatched with a note to the Hall, and Agathareceived a polite reply from the young man, saying that he hoped tocall on her about eleven o'clock the next morning. 

But Agatha could get no sleep that night; she was anxious and ill atease, and after tossing about in bed, long after the rest of thehousehold were deep in sleep, she rose to pace her room, as shesometimes did when wakeful. 

Her lips were moving in prayer, and she was endeavouring, as was hercustom, to commit her trouble to One above, when she was distinctlyconscious of stealthy footsteps treading the gravel path below herwindow. It was a bright moonlight night, and she had no light burning. For one moment she hesitated; then quietly she walked to the window, which was partly open, and cautiously moving the blind looked out. 

The shadow of a man turning the corner of the house towards the studywindow met her gaze, and Agatha realized that the time had come forimmediate action. She was naturally a brave woman; yet for an instant, when she remembered they were but a houseful of women, her couragefaltered. Only for an instant. Her motto, 'Trust in the Lord, 'flashed like a light across her path, and throwing on her dressinggown, she left her room with quiet, steady steps. She roused Clare, who slept in the next room, and who, full of nerves and fancies as shewas, delighted in any nocturnal adventure. 

'We really ought to have revolvers, ' she said, as she rapidly preparedto follow Agatha downstairs. 'What have you got in your hand? Apoker?'

'Don't make a noise; I think we shall frighten any one away withoutrousing the whole house. '

Clare valiantly seized both poker and tongs in her room, and creptdownstairs. Agatha led the way, a candle in hand. They reached thestudy, and Agatha threw open the door. To her horror the French windowwas wide open, and a man was on his knees by the cupboard, a lantern onthe ground. He started to his feet; then, bewildered and utterlyunprepared for their sudden intrusion, dashed out on the verandah anddisappeared, but not before both Agatha and Clare had plainlyrecognised him. He was Major Lester's valet!

[Illustration: AND SAW A MAN ON HIS KNEES BY THE CUPBOARD]

Agatha hastily closed the window and shutters, then looked at Clare, who was now white and trembling. 

'This looks bad, Clare, ' she said gravely. 'This window and shuttersmust have been purposely left unfastened. He could never haveunfastened them from outside. '

But now the danger was over Clare's courage had vanished. She graspedhold of Agatha's arm. 

'Come upstairs, quick! He may come back and murder us! I won't staydownstairs another minute. '

'There is nothing to fear now. He has gone. I don't think he woulddare face us after being recognised. Wait a minute. Look! He hasleft an envelope lying by his lantern, and I believe--yes, it is mine. And in Mr. Lester's handwriting. Jane must be at the bottom of this!'

'Come upstairs. I won't stay down here a minute longer!'

And Clare fled trembling to her room. Agatha did not go up till shehad made sure the windows and shutters were securely fastened, and hadalso been the round of the house. Then she went to Clare, who was insuch a panic of fright that she persuaded her to come and share herbed; and after she had grown calmer and finally dropped asleep, Agathalay quiet and sleepless, revolving the events of the night, and prayingfor wisdom in dealing with the suspected Jane. 

The next morning, immediately after breakfast, she called her into herroom, and the very sight of her white trembling face proved her guilt. By dint of cross questioning, and much entreaty, Agatha was at lastpossessed of all information. 

Watson, Major Lester's valet, was a devoted admirer of Jane. Togetherthey often talked over their respective master and mistress, and Watsonhad told her of Major Lester's unsatisfactory interview with Agatha. 

'It's some family papers that is locked up in that there cupboard he iswild to get at, and he says he has a right to 'em; and so he has, forhe told a gentleman who was visitin' him that they would do him amischief if they got into wrong hands. And it seems that Mr. Tom toldMiss Dane all about 'em, and gave her the secret of opening thatcupboard. '

From this statement Watson went on to work upon Jane's love ofdiscovering a mystery and her insatiable curiosity; and at last led herto thoroughly search Agatha's room for any papers bearing on thesubject. Quite by accident she came upon the secret drawer in thedressing-case. The fastening had become insecure, and, trembling ather audacity, Jane carried the packet to her lover, begging him toreturn it to her when he had possessed himself of its secret. The nextmove was to get her to leave the study windows unfastened, and hereJane's fortitude gave way. 

'I know it was wicked, ma'am, but Watson, he told me it couldn't do youa injury; he wasn't a housebreaker, he wouldn't lay his finger on anyproperty of yours! he only wanted to get his master what rightfullybelonged to him. Major Lester, he would handsomely reward him for it, and so I did as he told me, but I never slept a wink all last night, and when I heard you go downstairs, I could have screamed out "Murder!"I was that scared. '

Then Jane begged and prayed with heartfelt sobs for forgiveness, andAgatha, feeling a pity for her, told her she would not dismiss herwithout a character, as at first she had determined to do, but wouldlet her stay on for the month, at the end of which time she must go, asshe could never keep a maid who had proved so utterly untrustworthy. 

Coming downstairs from this interview with a worn face and anxiousheart, Agatha was met by Elfie. 

'Mr. Lester has come, Agatha. I met him in the garden, and he is inthe drawing-room waiting for you. '

CHAPTER XV

Alick Lester

He was a man of honour, of noble and generous nature. '--_Longfellow. _

Mr. Alick Lester proved to be a pleasant, frank young fellow, with thesunniest eyes and smile that Agatha had ever seen. She took to him atonce, and found herself telling him without any hesitation the historyof the lost packet. He listened attentively, but was indignant whenAgatha hinted that Watson might have acted under the major'sinstructions. 

'No, Miss Dane, my uncle is a gentleman. He would never stoop so lowas that. I know he tried to blacken my dear father's character, but heidolized his son, and hardly realized the mischief he was doing. Watson is a thorough scoundrel! I have always known it, and my unclehas already dismissed him for tampering with some of his letters. Hewas telling us about it last night, and Watson leaves him at the end ofthis week. Depend upon it, the chap was trying to get the papers inhis own hands for ends of his own, and I think you were awfully pluckyto catch him at it as you did. But now we must get hold of him atonce, and get the packet from him. '

'I expect he will have left the neighbourhood, ' said Agatha. 'If youwish to open the cupboard, my sister will tell you the secret. She hasaccidentally discovered it. Shall we go to the study now?'

The young man agreed at once to this proposal, and when Clare cameforward, he looked at her with secret laughter in his eyes. 

'They say a woman never rests content under a mystery, ' he said; 'andyou have proved my good angel, so I can only avow my gratitude. But doyou know that from a boy I have viewed that cupboard as impenetrable asthe sphinx itself? And yet my energy or ambition to solve its secretwas never sufficient to allow me to succeed. My father always told methat age had some advantages, and that when the time came for me toknow all that he did, I should do so. '

Clare flushed and felt very uncomfortable; then she met the young man'sgaze calmly. 

'I know I have shown the weakness of our sex, but it is not often oneis brought into contact with such a mystery; and having had yourfather's Arabic motto translated to me, I could not resist thetemptation of trying to prove its truth. I need not say I have notopened the cupboard. That temptation I was enabled to resist. '

'And the motto?' inquired the young man, passing his hand almosttenderly over his father's handiwork, and a shade coming over his browas he spoke. 

Clare's face was sad too, as she remembered from whom the translationhad come, but she repeated quietly, --

 '"A closed bud containeth Possibilities infinite and unknown. "'

Then, stooping down, she turned the carved bud, until a sharp click washeard, and the door moved forwards; and then linking her arm in that ofAgatha the sisters left the room, and Alick Lester was alone with thesecret solved at last. 

Two or three hours passed, and still he was shut in the study. When heat last appeared in the drawing-room, he seemed to have left his youthand brightness behind him there. He asked with knitted brow andanxious face if he might speak to Agatha alone, and then drawing adusty leather portfolio from under his arm he held it out to her, saying, 'I received a letter written by my father shortly before hisdeath, and which he had left in the charge of our lawyer. He told meto give this to you. I fancy it may not prove so valuable to you as mydear father hoped. It is merely a collection of notes of his, and afew valuable papers about some Assyrian and Egyptian antiquities. Healways hoped to write a book upon the subject, but put off doing sountil he could obtain more information on certain points, or links, that were missing. '

Agatha took her legacy very calmly. 

'I daresay my sister Gwen, who is now abroad, will be interested in it. She is very fond of antiquities of all sorts. '

Then looking at the young fellow's dazed, troubled face, she saidsympathetically, 'I am afraid you have spent a sad morning in lookingover your father's belongings. '

He laughed a little shortly. 

'I have had a shock, and feel bewildered. I have not the faintest ideahow to act, and it is at present all dark to me. Miss Dane, you are agood woman, my father says. Will you pray that I may have rightguidance about a very difficult matter? And may I come and see youagain? I shall be staying at the Crown Hotel in Brambleton for thepresent. The Millers wanted me to go to them, but I cannot. If Istayed in this village at all, it would have to be at the Hall, andthey--I do not want that. '

'I hope you do not look upon us as usurpers, ' said Agatha. 'I cannottell you how guilty I feel sometimes about accepting this house fromyour father, especially since your return. It seems as if you ought tobe here. '

Then Alick Lester looked up with his sunny smile. 

'Miss Dane, I assure you I would never live here! My future is to bespent either out in the colonies or--or in a different house to this. And I cannot tell you what a cheery, home-like aspect you have given tothis old house. I am sure you are a boon to the neighbourhood, and Ishould like, if you don't think it forward of me upon so short anacquaintance, to look upon you all as friends. '

He grasped her hand warmly and departed; and from that time forward hewas on a friendly and familiar footing with the inmates of his old home. 

Watson was found to have already left the neighbourhood, as Agathasurmised, and no one was able to trace his movements. Not wishing tocreate disturbance in the village, Agatha did not mention his nocturnalvisit to any one, and Alick was the only one who knew of it besidesthemselves. Elfie and Clare were both rather disappointed that themystery of the cupboard seemed to be such a common-place affair, butthey noticed that it had brought a great deal of anxious thought toAlick Lester. His face was almost careworn at times, and he seemed nowto spend most of his time in London, occasionally coming to have afurther rummage in the cupboard. 

'It is crammed full of old letters and papers, ' he said once to Agatha;'and if you will let me look through them on the spot, it will be sucha help to me. '

One day he brought in Roger Lester, and introduced him; and after thatthe two young fellows often dropped in to afternoon tea, assuringAgatha that they never felt so much at home anywhere else. They bothhad a fund of high spirits, and though Alick at times looked absorbedand pre-occupied in anxious thought, he knew how to throw it aside andbe as light-hearted as his cousin. 

They were sitting one afternoon on the verandah outside thedrawing-room, when Roger turned to Agatha and remarked, --

'You would not imagine it, Miss Dane, but we two have grown up withsuch perfect _cameraderie_ that until quite lately, I believe, we havenever concealed a single thing from each other. And now if you hear ofus drifting apart, and our liking turning to hate, you will know thecause--it is the renowned old carved cupboard. '

Alick had been talking and laughing with Elfie, but he stoppedinstantly as if he had been shot when he heard this speech, and therewas an awkward silence for a minute. 

Roger added with a laugh, 'It is some skeleton he has unearthed; butwhy he should refuse to let me share in the secret I can't imagine!'

'I don't think we need make it a matter of public talk, ' said Alickhotly. 

His cousin looked at him in astonishment, then changed the subject witha shrug of his shoulders and a laugh. 

When they were gone Clare said thoughtfully, 'There is a mystery afterall, and not a very pleasant one, apparently. I feel sorry for Mr. Alick. '

'Which do you like the best of the cousins?' asked Elfie carelessly. 

Clare's face looked sad as she replied, 'Oh, I don't know. I don'tthink any young man is worth a thought. They amuse one by their fun, but I would just as soon not have them come here so often. Miss Millerwill be attacking us soon on the subject. She was beginning thismorning, when I met her out, but I always flee from her when she is inher aggressive moods. '

'What did she say?'

Clare looked at her younger sister with a little smile. 

'Perhaps I had better not tell you. She saw you cut a rose off theother afternoon and offer it to Mr. Alick, and she considers that thedepth of iniquity. "Such a piece of audacious flirting I have rarelyseen carried on within a few yards from an open road in full view ofany passer-by!" And then she turned the tables on me, and I came off, because she was making me boil with indignation. I think she delightsin making her fellow-creatures as uncomfortable as possible. '

'It is only her way, ' put in Agatha; 'she does not realize what a stingher words have. She told me last Sunday, when I unfortunately gave anorder to some of my Sunday class in front of her, that however much Imight try to slight her and usurp her place in the vicarage and parishI would not be successful, for the vicar was proof against all youngladies' blandishments!'

'She ought to be horsewhipped!' cried Elfie hotly, and then she beganto laugh. 

'There is one that is a match for her in the parish, and that is DebHowitt. She was covering a chair at the vicarage, and Miss Miller wasabusing some of the congregation--I forget who it was now. It wasabout the behaviour of some girls--I think she is always specially hardon them--and Deb looked at her very quietly. "Ay, ma'am, we mustn'tgrudge them their sweethearts! 'Tis better for most to have the caresof a family to soften them, for 'tis the spinsters that have the namefor getting hard and bitter. Sharp tongues are not so frequent amongstmothers, and the world would be better without bitterness, I reckon!"Miss Miller shut up at once. '

'Deb asked me yesterday when Gwen was coming back. What do you think, Agatha?' said Clare. 

'I don't know at all. You know what her last letter said. That Walterhad sold his farm and gone off with Mr. Montmorency, and she wasstaying with Mrs. Montmorency in Loreto. She did not seem in a hurryto leave, and as long as she is happy we must be content that sheshould be out there. '

And the autumn came and went, and winter set in without any word orsign from Gwen of home-coming. 

Alick and Roger spent the autumn in Scotland, but Christmas found themboth at the Hall. Major Lester seemed to have overcome his dislike tohis nephew, and the Hall was quite a cheerful centre in the village. Visitors came and went, and Agatha and her sisters were asked up theremore frequently than they cared to go. 

Agatha still possessed Alick's confidence. He would come to her foradvice, as most people did, but yet would never touch upon his seriousdifficulty; and she sometimes wondered if the cupboard's secret was nolonger a trouble to him. 

'Do you think I am leading a lazy life?' he asked her one day, when hemet her walking out and insisted upon accompanying her home. 

'I think you are. It is always a pity when young men have enoughincome to live independently without any responsibility attaching totheir wealth. '

'I am not wealthy, ' he responded quickly. 'I have just enough to liveupon. What do you think of Roger? He is as idle as I at present. '

'I think not. He helps his father with the property, which is a largeone, and if anything happened to Major Lester he would have his handsfull. '

Alick laughed a little hardly. 

'Lucky fellow! So if I were in his shoes you would not find fault withme!'

'I think, ' said Agatha gently, 'that each one of us ought to realizethat we are not placed in this world to live for ourselves. There isso much to do for others who need our help. You are young now, andhave life stretching out in front of you. Do not waste it, do not haveto acknowledge when your life is over that no one will have been thebetter for your existence. '

'Would you have one sink one's own individuality in the lives ofothers, like some of our great philanthropists?'

'No, our first duty is to ourselves. I think too many in the presentday rush into work of all sorts, trying to please and satisfy others atthe expense of their own peace and satisfaction, and that is wrong. '

'I don't understand you. '

'I mean this. We have two lives: the outer one which every one sees, and the inner one which only God and ourselves know about. Our innerlife is the more important one of the two, is it not? For it is thespiritual part of us that is immortal. First let us satisfy and ensurethe safety of our own souls, before we seek to satisfy the hungry andthirsty ones around us. And then if our inner life is adjustedrightly--is in touch (shall I say?) with its Maker--the helping othersbecomes a pleasure as well as a necessity. '

Alick did not reply, and Agatha delicately turned the subject; but herwords made him ponder much afterwards, and had far more effect upon himthan ever she imagined. 

CHAPTER XVI

Bringing Bad Tidings

'A man should never be ashamed to own he has been in the wrong, whichis but saying, in other words, that he is wiser to-day than he wasyesterday. '--_Pope. _

It was towards the end of February that old Nannie sat by her fire inthe peaceful almshouse in which she had taken shelter. Rain wasfalling fast, and when she heard a knock at her door, she hardly turnedin her chair, for she thought it could be only one of her neighbourscome for a chat. 

When the new-comer came silently forward and stood in front of her, Nannie looked up with a gasp and a cry. 

'Miss Gwen! My dear Miss Gwen, is it you? Where do you come from?And oh, how ill you look!'

Gwen bent over the old woman and kissed her; then she took a seat byher and gave a hard little laugh. 

'Oh no, I am not ill. I wish I could be--at least, I am almost cowardenough to wish it. I only landed early this morning in the LondonDocks. I have come from California, Nannie. Aren't you glad to seeme?'

Gwen was clad in a plain dark blue serge and sailor hat, but somehowhad not her habitual neat appearance. Her face was wan and white, sheseemed to have aged ten years, and her once sparkling eyes were now dimand worn-looking. 

'Just off a voyage, ' murmured Nannie, putting on her spectacles andpeering anxiously into her face. 'Ay, my dear, surely them foreignparts don't bring such change and misery to all the folks who ventureout?'

Gwen laughed again. 

'Every one, I hope, has not had my experience, ' she said. 'If I mayquote from your favourite book, Nannie, I can say truly, "I went outfull, and have been brought home again empty!"'

'"The Lord hath brought me home again empty, "' corrected Nannie. 

Then Gwen leant forward, and taking Nannie's two hands in hers, shesaid in a hard, strained voice:

'Nannie, I have come to you because I am desperate, and I thoughtperhaps you would give me courage to face them at home. I have neverhad such a hard task set me in my life; but I deserve it, and I am notgoing to flinch from my duty. I have ruined four people's lives, myown included!'

She strangled a dry sob in her throat, then went on, --grasping thewithered hands in hers, as a drowning man might a rope, --'Nannie, doyou remember my verse you gave me this time last year?'

'Ay, Miss Gwen, my dear, surely, and many's the prayer I've offered upat the throne of grace for you! "Commit thy way unto the Lord, trustalso in Him, and He shall bring it to pass!" Maybe you've come to theend of your own ways by this time--will that be it?'

'Judgment has come on me. I was so sure, so certain of my plans. Ifrustrated every difficulty, I forced some against their will to assistme in carrying them out; and yet all this last year your verse hashaunted me. I was determined to be independent of God. I was soself-assured, and my pride and spirit carried me through all, that Ilaughed at the idea of failure; and then when the blow fell, it crushedevery atom of self-confidence and spirit out of me! I am a poor, miserable, broken-down creature, Nannie; what can you say to help me?'

Nannie gently withdrew her hands, and leaning forward, placed them onGwen's shoulders. Then in a tender, solemn tone she said, '"Blessedare the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven!"'

There was dead silence for a few moments, and then Gwen bowed her headin her old nurse's lap, and tears came thick and fast. 

Nannie let her cry on, but her lips moved in prayer. 'Dear Lord, Thouhast smitten to heal; Thou hast broken to mend; let her meet with Theenow, and get Thy blessing!'

'I have never shed a tear until now, ' uttered Gwen at last, looking upat Nannie with almost a pathetic look in her tear-dimmed eyes. 'I feltmy trouble was too great for tears. I was turning to stone until I sawyou. Oh, Nannie, if you knew all, you would be sorry for me!'

Will you be telling it to me, Miss Gwen?'

'Yes, indeed I will. '

Gwen gave a rough sketch of her life for the first month with herbrother. She told of the bitter blow it was to find him about to bemarried; and then told Nannie of Mr. Montmorency's arrival, and thepressure put upon her brother to sell his farm, and join him in hisquest for gold. 

'I gave him no rest, Nannie, until he promised to do as I wanted. Ieven went to the girl he was going to marry, and coaxed and entreatedher to add her persuasions to mine. She was bitterly disappointed, poor little thing, at their marriage being postponed, but she wasthoroughly unselfish, and only thought of Walter's good. Mr. Montmorency worked hard too. He wanted more capital, and said Waltermust do his share in getting it, if he was to be a partner, so I workedwith all my might and main to get it for him. I persuaded Meta Setonto invest a legacy of hers in the scheme; I wrote home and implored allthe others to invest in it too. I put all the money I had myself init, and then when all was done, and I had broken up Walter's home, Isat down in complacency and waited for the success that was sure tofollow. I can't tell you when the first doubts of the whole thingcrept into my mind. I only know the last four months have been ones oftorturing suspense and uncertainty. I wonder I have not come homegrey-headed. The crash came six weeks or so ago. Mr. Montmorency, after ruining himself, my brother, and hundreds of others, decamped, and has not been heard of since. It was simply a mad speculation seton foot by a clever man with little capital of his own. Walter isruined; he has crept back to his own part of the country, and has tobegin life all over again; his hopes of a married life and a happy homehave been dashed to the ground. Meta's father is so enraged at hisdaughter's legacy being lost, that he has forbidden Walter the house, and his bride as well as his farm has been taken from him. I wonder hedid not curse me, as he came to see me off in the steamer; but hisface--the hopelessness and despair written there--was quite enough forme. And now I am going back to break to Clare and Elfie that they aswell as myself are absolute beggars. Agatha was the only wise oneamongst us. She refused to trust Mr. Montmorency with one farthing ofher money. '

'Ay, my dear, it's terrible--terrible for you; but loss of money is notruin. You have health and strength and youth to sustain you, andthough the cloud has been dark, it will have a silver lining!'

'How can I tell them!' cried Gwen; and her face grew set and hard, asshe stood up, and dashed the tear-drops from her eyelashes. 'They haveno idea I am returning home, or what has happened. I have been to ourlawyer before I came to you, and though he has heard bad reports of Mr. Montmorency, he has never said a word to them. Do you realize I havebeggared our whole family, Nannie? Poor Clare has had trouble enoughof her own, without this in addition; and Elfie, who has never had acare or thought, how will she take it? I wish--I wish I were dead!'

'Hush, hush, my dear!' said Nannie, almost sternly. 'That would be acoward's wish, and you are not that! If you learn the lesson the Lordwould have you learn, you may yet live to find that this big troublehas been the biggest blessing in your life. '

'Do you think if I had been like Agatha, who prays even if she goesshopping that she may spend the money properly, and if I had committedmy plans to God, this would have happened, Nannie?'

'No, I don't think it would, ' was Nannie's grave reply. 

Then there was silence, which Nannie broke by begging Gwen to have somerefreshment. 

'No, thank you, Nannie, I must be going. I wish I had done with life, and was in an almshouse with you. It would be so easy to be all thatone ought to be. Good-bye, you old dear. Pray for me, for I have adreadful time before me, and I don't see how on earth we are to live. I shall have to earn money somehow at once. Perhaps I shall go intoservice--that is the fashion now. Ladies are becoming servants to theclass who used to be in service. Give me your blessing and let me go!'

Gwen was talking fast and lightly to hide her emotion, but old Nannietook hold of her hands and looked up at her very solemnly. 

'My dear Miss Gwen, you have heard God's voice speaking to you manytimes since you were a little girl. You are hearing it again now. Areyou going to close your ear to it? If your pride and self-confidenceis crumbled to dust, 'tis the opportunity to confess it to Him whohates a proud look, and says the humble shall be exalted. Take yourbitterness of soul to the Saviour, and He will heal and comfort you. Promise me you will listen to His voice!'

'You're a saint, Nannie; I promise you I will pray, if I have neverdone so before. Good-bye. '

She went out into the pouring rain, found her way back to the station, and an hour after was at Waterloo Station starting for Brambleton. Shewas just getting into the carriage when some one accosted her. It wasClement Arkwright, who had travelled out to California with her. Helooked unfeignedly pleased to see her. 

'Just come home again, Miss Dane? How did you like California?'

Gwen hardly knew how to answer him. A rush of memories came over her. The time on board ship when she had so systematically avoided him, andcultivated with assiduity the one who had ruined her, stood up beforeher with awful distinctness. But she pulled herself together, andtried to speak unconcernedly. 

'I am glad to be back again. '

'How is your brother? I hope the report I heard was not true, that hehad joined Alf Montmorency in his search for gold?'

Gwen was in the carriage now, and the train was just starting. Shespoke on the impulse of the moment, and Clement Arkwright never forgotthe look of despairing hopelessness on her face as she held out herhand to him. 

'Good-bye--we are off. You told me once that I would bring disasterupon myself by my obstinate wilfulness. I have done so. You warned meon the steamer against Mr. Montmorency. But I would not listen, and hehas ruined the whole lot of us. '

The train steamed out of the station, and Clement Arkwright turned awaywith a grave, thoughtful face. 

'Poor Gwen! Yet it will be the making of her, if she can once be gotto confess that her judgment is not infallible. I should like to gethold of that scoundrel!'

It was about five o'clock when Gwen reached Brambleton. She left herluggage at the station, and tramped through the driving rain and windwith fierce indifference, arriving at Jasmine Cottage with drenchedgarments, and weary, footsore feet. 

The lamps were lighted in the drawing-room, and the shutters were notclosed. Gwen stepped quietly up to the window and looked in. It was acosy, cheerful scene. Agatha was sitting with a smile on her face by abright fire, knitting in hand. Clare was reading aloud on the oppositeside of the fireplace, and Elfie in her favourite position on the lowfender-stool, tempting a grey Persian kitten to perform acrobaticalantics with Agatha's ball of wool. 

'How changed will be the scene a few minutes later!' thought Gwenbitterly, and she knocked sharply at the door. It was opened by a maidwho had superseded Jane, and who looked suspiciously at the drenchedfigure. 

'You have mistaken this for the vicarage, ' she said superciliously. 'If you want shelter or food, you will get it there!'

Gwen swung her aside with a quick impatient laugh, and opened thedrawing-room door. In another moment, with cries of astonishment anddelight, her sisters were caressing and welcoming her; but she pushedthem away from her. 

'Let me tell you how I come back first, ' she said sharply. 'You willnot give me such a hearty welcome when you know. I have ruined Walter;the gold company has been a big swindle, and every penny of our moneyhas all gone. Now what do you say to me?'

'Never mind the money now, ' said Agatha, who was never discomposed. 'Come upstairs to bed at once, you are wet through. How could you walkthrough such a storm! Not another word till you have had something toeat. Come along--you are dead beat. '

She led her away, motioning to Clare and Elfie not to follow, and theystood looking at each other with dazed, bewildered eyes. 

'Does she mean it? Is it really true?' exclaimed Elfie, 'Oh, how illshe looks!'

'What a dreadful thing for Walter!' was Clare's response; and then thefull force of Gwen's words dawned upon them. 

'Whatever shall we do? Agatha's hundred pounds will not keep four ofus!'

When Agatha returned to the room, nearly an hour later, she found ananxious consultation going on by the fire. Her face was just as placidas usual, though a shade graver. 

'I have left her to sleep, ' she said; 'it is the best thing for her. She seems quite worn out, and I think it is best for none of us to gonear her till the morning. '

'Is it really true what she says?'

'I am afraid so. I would not let her give me details. She is sofilled with remorse at having persuaded you to invest your money so, that I saw she was working herself into a perfect fever over it, and Istopped her at once. I am thankful she is home again. I have beenvery uneasy about her lately. '

'I never thought you were uneasy about anything, ' said Clare, trying tosmile. 

'We are planning what we can do to earn our livelihood, Agatha, ' saidElfie. 'Have you any idea to give us?'

'We will not go into that to-night, ' was Agatha's quiet response. 'This house is our own, and so is the furniture. We have sufficientfor the present. When Gwen has got over the fatigue of her journey, wewill have a talk together about ways and means. '

Just before going to her own room for the night, Agatha stepped quietlyinto Gwen's room. 

She found her lying wide awake staring at the flickering fire with ahard set face, and determined lips. Agatha came up and put her hand onher forehead. 

'You are feverish, ' she said. 'Are you comfortable? Do you not feelsleepy?'

'Would you?' was the quick retort. 

'I am sure I should, after the journey you have had. Oh, Gwen dear, don't look so! There are worse losses than money. Don't reproachyourself too much. ' And Agatha was so touched by the hopeless miseryin her sister's face that tears filled her eyes. 

Gwen looked at her, and her face began to soften. 

'You're a good old thing, Agatha. I wish I were more like you. Youwill need all your faith and prayer now, and so will the others. Good-night. '

She turned her face away, and with a kiss and an unspoken prayer, Agatha left her. 

CHAPTER XVII

Elfie's Choice

 'Go, whate'er the lot may be That my Father sends to me, Never am I comfortless With His Word to aid and bless; And while He His help is bringing, I will cheer the way with singing. '--_Farningham. _

Gwen refused to have her breakfast in bed the next morning, andappeared downstairs at the usual hour with a white determined face. 

She looked in astonishment at Elfie, who was flitting round the roomsinging merrily, as she added fresh flowers to the vases on thebreakfast table. 

'Well, ' said Elfie, a little defiantly, 'I am not going to bemiserable, even if we have lost our money. There is no death in thehouse, and they say beggars have lighter hearts than kings!'

And she would not have breakfast a silent meal, but chatted andlaughed, and had so much to tell Gwen of all that had happened duringher absence, that she infected the others with her light-hearted gaiety. 

It was after Agatha had done her housekeeping that, sitting round thefire, Gwen gave them full details of all they wished to know. She didnot spare herself, and her sisters wondered at the change in her, fornever before in their lives had they known Gwen to own herself in thewrong. Then ways and means were discussed, Agatha declared she wouldsend away the two maids at once, and then with the help of a woman fromthe village, she was sure they could still live together on her income;but this the others would not hear of. 

'I would set up a village shop if I had capital, ' asserted Gwen, with alittle of her old spirit; 'the _rôle_ of governess for needy women ispast and gone; but for myself I know I shall not do better than stickto literature. I can write, and I have had many openings which I haverefused, because I did not want the grind of it. If I set to work inearnest now, I shall soon bring some grist to the mill. '

'By the bye, ' said Agatha, 'I wonder if you could make anything of afat bundle of manuscripts that Mr. Lester bequeathed to me. I know youlove any ancient papers, and though they're Latin and Greek to me, youmay make something of them. '

She left the room, and soon returned with the papers. Gwen's eyesglistened as she looked them through. And she seemed to forget timeand surroundings as she sat down and pored over them with eagerinterest. 

At last she looked up. 

Agatha, if I can put these together, it will prove a valuable legacy. Will you hand them over to me? There will be months' work, but it willbe well worth the labour. I know some men in London would give youhundreds of pounds for some of these papers, but I shall not let themslip out of my hands. '

'I am so glad you will be able to make something of them, ' respondedAgatha simply. 'He said I might make what use I liked of them, so Iwillingly give them to you. '

'So Gwen's livelihood is secured, ' said Clare, trying to speak lightly. 'Now let me tell you what I propose to do. The other day Miss Villarsasked me if I knew of any lady who would undertake the post of matronto a small Convalescent Home for clergymen's wives and daughters. Itis a private one that Miss Villars has started herself. She said shewanted some one who was quite a lady, and who would be able to makeevery one feel comfortable and at home. The salary would be about 50pounds. She said she would only give the post to some one who wasreally needing the money. I believe she would give it to me at once ifI told her how things were with us, and I should like it. I mean to goover to her this afternoon and ask her about it. Well, Agatha, don'tyou approve? Do you think me too incapable for the housekeeping?'

Clare finished her proposal rather wistfully, and Gwen looked at her inwonder. She had noticed, as perhaps the others had not, the greatchange that had passed over the wilful, capricious girl during the lastsix months. There was a subdued tone in her voice, but a glad light inher eye and a quiet restfulness about her manner that had been utterlyforeign to her before. 

Clare had come through the refining fire, softened and purified; shewas a little quieter than she used to be, but every now and then herold, clear laugh would ring out, and if her moods were not so mirthfulas Elfie's, they were quite as bright. Quietly and unassumingly shehad slipped into the way of giving her help whenever it was needed, andnow when Agatha contemplated the possibility of a coming separationfrom her, she began to realize how much she would miss her. Theconversation continued, and then Elfie put in her word. 

'And now what in the world am I to do? Will you agree to letting me goup to London and play to the public? I could get pushed on byProfessor S----. He told me in Germany he could give me several verygood introductions, if I wished to make music my profession. There isreally nothing else I am good at. '

No one would hear of this suggestion, and later in the day Agathaconfided to Gwen a little of her anxiety about Alick Lester and Elfie. 

'I do not think it is fancy. He is a great deal here--more than Ilike--and now he has no eyes or ears for any one but her. I do notknow whether she likes him; I notice she is self-conscious and absorbedwhen he is here, and that is not at all natural to her. '

'What prospects has he?' asked Gwen abruptly. 

'I don't know. I sometimes wish I knew a little more about him. Eversince he has opened the cupboard, he has had something weighing on hismind, and though he tells me he has only about 200 pounds a year tolive upon, he seems in no hurry to get anything to do. It is an idlelife for him in this small village. He is with his cousin most of histime, but he drops in to see us in the evening; in fact, they both comehere a great deal, and though Miss Miller has put her veto on it, nothing will keep them away. '

'I wish Elfie would marry. She is not fit to fight life's battle;' andGwen sighed as she spoke, and her face relapsed into its now habitualgloom. 

But the next day brought a letter that decided Elfie's fate. 

She opened it with a grimace at the handwriting. 

'Now what does Cousin James want to say to me! Do you think he hasheard of our misfortunes?'

She read on, and her face grew thoughtful. Instead of handing it overto any of her sisters to read, she left the room with it in her hand. 

And in the privacy of her own bedroom she spread it out before her, anda hard and sore battle commenced in her heart. 

The letter was as follows:--

'DEAR ELFRIDA, --

'I have just heard in the city from Watkins, that your clever sisterhas squandered out in California, all the money that was left you byour aunt. It is a pity that you are all so wilful and ignorant aboutmoney matters. However, I am quite willing to come forward and offermy help, though in these hard times, with such an establishment as DaneHall to keep up, I find it increasingly difficult to live within myincome. Your cousin Helen is in very delicate health, and has for sometime past felt unequal to managing our large household. She needs somebright companionship; and I now offer you a home with us, on conditionthat you make yourself generally useful, and relieve your cousin of allthe house-keeping details that fret and annoy her. I shall allow you ahandsome allowance for dress in addition, as I shall wish to see yousuitably dressed for our position here. Let me hear how soon you cancome, and I will arrange that you shall be met at the station. TellAgatha I commend her for her prudence in refusing to let her money beused for speculation. I hope it will be a lesson to Gwendoline in thefuture. Her self-confidence needed to be shaken. 

'Your affectionate cousin, 'JAMES DANE. '

Elfie read and re-read this through in a mist of tears. 

'O God, ' she murmured, 'anything but this! I cannot go. It would beslow torture! Do Thou guide and direct me, and help me to decide; butoh, if it is possible, do Thou open another door for me!'

Poor Elfie knew well enough that if she asked her sisters' advice, theywould be all agreed as to the impossibility of her accepting hercousin's offer. She knew her Cousin Helen would not make her house ahappy or an easy home to live in, for she was a weak, nervously-strungwoman, with an irritable temper and an abject fear of her husband, whose will was absolute law. And in the secret depths of Elfie's heartthere was a strong disinclination, even though she would not own it toherself, to leave home at present. Though Alick Lester had not saidmuch to her, she knew well enough what his state of feelings were abouther; his frequent visits were becoming very pleasant to her, and toleave it all, and perhaps never see him again, was hard to contemplatecalmly. He often talked to her of going abroad, and she feared hemight do so at once, were she gone. Yet, as she looked the matterstraight in the face, she could not but acknowledge to herself that shehad no right to refuse it. 

'I will not live on Agatha's money; she would share her last crust withany of us, but I am young and strong, and this has come when I amlooking out for employment. Many a girl would be thankful to have sucha home offered her. I must go and do my best, and I must decidemyself, without listening to the others. But oh, it will be a hardlife after our happy little home together here!'

The battle was won after she had knelt in prayer, and when she joinedher sisters again she was her sunny self. 

But when she let them read the letter, they were all indignant at thethought of it. 

'I should think you would rather sweep a crossing than go!'

'To be a dependent on Cousin James, and a member of his household, would be more than flesh and blood could stand!'

'Can you imagine the life of Cousin Helen's companion?'

And so on, until throwing back her little head importantly, Elfie wasable to protest. 

'I know you won't approve of it, but I have decided that I shall go, and you must look at the advantages and make the best of it if you wantto help me. '

'You shall never go with my consent, ' said Agatha, roused from herusual placidity. 

'Then, ' said Elfie, laughing, 'I shall go without it, or rather, Ishall never rest till I have coaxed a consent out of you. Think ofliving in the dear old place we all love so well, in the lap of luxury, with nothing to do but dress well, and eat well, and order the dinners, and see that the servants do their work properly! And hasn't it justcome at the right time, when my future was so unsettled? Now if Claresucceeds in her plan we shall be all provided for, and life will gosmoothly again. And we must comfort ourselves with the thought that weare only paying visits away from home, and perhaps next Christmas wemay get together again!'

She rattled on, and then ran out of the room to hide the little chokein her throat, and her sisters looked at each other in bewilderment. 

'I never could have thought Elfie would have entertained the idea for aminute, ' said Agatha; 'she cannot have the same feelings we have aboutCousin James if she can so calmly accept his offer. But she was awayin Germany, I remember, when it all happened. I suppose it is ratherattractive to her than otherwise. She does not know Cousin Helen as wedo. '

'She has no proper pride, ' said Gwen, with flashing eyes; and then shepulled herself up. 

'Well, I have driven her to it. That will be consolation to me!'

'She talks very lightly of leaving home, ' said Clare. 'I wish I hadher happy way of looking at things. Nothing seems to trouble her. '

It needed a great deal of coaxing and persuasion to bring her sistersround to her way of thinking; but Elfie was allowed at last to send offher letter accepting her cousin's offer, and none of them ever knew howmuch it cost her to do it. 

Her sunny temper and light-hearted mirth often hid a good deal offeeling; but, like many others with such a disposition, she never gotthe credit of taking life seriously. 

'She is such a child, ' Agatha would say; 'she will be happy in anycircumstances. I am thankful she does not feel things deeply. '

And so none but One above knew the scalding tears dropped in secret, and the terrible sinking of heart with which she viewed her future. 

Clare went over to see Miss Villars in the afternoon, and after a longtalk obtained the post she coveted. 

'You know, ' she confided to her friend, 'since I have felt sodifferently about things, I have been longing to do some work for God. It is very pleasant living at home, but it is an idle life, isn't it?With Miss Miller's energy, and Agatha aiding her in all the villagework, there is nothing left for me, and I long if I can to influenceothers for good. '

'I am so thankful to hear you say so, and doubly thankful to think ofyou being in a position to influence others of your own class. Theyoung people at the convalescent home will be so much more likely toconfide in you, and be impressed by what you say, from the very fact ofyour being young yourself, and not beyond all the innocent pleasures ofyouth. '

'But, ' said Clare depreciatingly, 'I am such a beginner; that is theone thing frightens me--my want of experience. And I am still verymoody, Miss Villars. Don't smile; I do think at the bottom of my heartmy restlessness and discontent is gone; but some days everything seemsblack, and I wonder if I am a real Christian after all. I wish I hadyour feelings. '

'Oh, these feelings!' said Miss Villars, with a little laugh. 'Youwill be better, my dear child, when your life is more filled up, andyou have so much of others' troubles and pleasures to think of, thatyou will have no time for your own. '

So Clare came back with her future settled, and the sisters were verybusy for the next few weeks making preparation for the two departingones. Alick and his cousin were in and out, and the former seemed toget doubly depressed when he heard that Elfie was going away. Yet upto the last his tongue seemed tied, and it was not until she wasactually in the railway carriage that he said a word. He had insistedupon seeing her off, and Agatha, fussing over the luggage, was notaware that anything passed between them. 

Holding Elfie's hand tightly in his own, he said huskily and withemphasis:--

'You won't forget me? I shall see you again; and meanwhile, believe Imean it!'

That was all that was said, but the two understood each other, andElfie leant back in her seat, as the train steamed out of the station, with joy throbbing through her heart. 

'I shall not be at Cousin James' long, I am sure, ' she repeated overand over to herself; and so bravely and cheerfully she took up her newlife, and her letters home were so bright and amusing, that both Agathaand Gwen thought that she was perfectly happy and well. 

CHAPTER XVIII

Patty's Grave

 'But when they left her to herself again, Death, like a friend's voice from a distant field, Approaching through the darkness, called. '--_Tennyson. _

The summer came and went very quietly. Gwen remained with Agatha, butwas wholly engrossed in her writing. Sometimes Agatha wouldremonstrate with her, when she came to breakfast looking worn andhaggard, and confessing she had been writing in the study till betweentwo and three in the morning. 

'You will wear yourself out. Why don't you take it more quietly?There is no need for such labour. '

'You would realize the need if you were in my shoes, ' said Gwen, 'andfelt your debts hanging over your head every minute of the day. I willnever rest until I have repaid all that has been lost. '

'But that will be impossible, and unnecessary. '

'I don't think so, ' was the curt reply. 

Gwen was much up in town, sometimes at the British Museum, and sheworked away at Mr. Lester's manuscripts whenever she could spare timefrom her usual writing. One afternoon she rejoiced Agatha's heart byannouncing her intention of taking a walk. 

'I shall stroll over to the Howitts. Have you any message for Deb?'

'I think not. I hear that Patty has not been well this last week. Youmight take her a little pudding. Deb was not working at the vicaragethis week because of her illness. '

Gwen set out, and the fresh, keen autumn air refreshed and invigoratedher. She found the little cottage nearly hidden from view by theheavily-laden apple trees, but there was a stillness about the placethat was not usual. The door was on the latch, and when she steppedinside the kitchen, it was empty. 

However, the door leading into the sisters' bedroom was ajar, and Gwenfound Patty in bed, and Deb vainly endeavouring to make her swallow abasin of gruel. 

'It isn't gruel I'll be wantin', when I know how you burns my best'namel saucepan in the doin' of it. 'Tis a mercy I've got the honeyall in, and now there'll be the apples to be gathered and preserved;and who's to have the doin' of it, wi' you, whose heart and hands areonly in the dressmakin', and me a achin' and smartin' wi' pains fromhead to toe, and worse to foller?'

'Then I'll away to the doctor this blessed minit, and Miss Miller willbe for sendin' that parish nurse she's a startin' of, and who's akickin' up her heels with naught to keep her out o' mischief. She'llbe flyin' down here wi' the greatest joy, and will handle your pots andpans as poor me isn't able, and I'll be back to my dressmakin', notbeing of no manner o' use in tendin' a sick sister, who's thatpartickler, and full o' fuss----'

Deb stopped here, catching sight of Gwen, and her face brightened asshe turned to her. 

'Come in, my dear; we're just two quarrelsome old women, as you know, and Patty, poor thing! is a new hand at illness. 'Tis a bad attack o'cold in the innards--flannelation o' the lung, a neighbour thinks; butshe be a contrary patient, and she won't have no doctor. '

Gwen stepped up to the invalid, and looked down with pity upon the thingaunt frame stretched on the tiny bed. Patty's face was flushed, herlips dry and parched, and her eyes feverishly bright. She seemed verytalkative. 

'Come in, miss, and welcome. Better in here, where I can see things iswhat they should be, than out in the kitchen, which to my certainknowledge hasn't been cleaned out proper since I took to bed, and thatwas week ago yesterday. If I could get better, please God, I neverwould put off the scrubbin' out o' the cupboards agen. Twas Toosday, the day for to do 'em, and I says to myself, "I seem strangely tired, I'll leave it till tomorrow;" and Wednesday found me in my bed, too badto move, and the cupboards hasn't had their right chance yet, and Debshe be but a poor cleaner. Ay, dearie me, it'll go hard wi' me if I'mnot so much as able to wash myself, and--but there, the good Lord willtake me home when it comes to that, for when my cleanin' days be overmy livin' days will be over too. '

'Now look here, ' said Gwen authoritatively, 'you are talking yourselfinto a fever. Lie still, take your gruel, and hear me do the talking. Now, Deb, give me the stuff. It looks delicious. I'll turn nurse. '

There was no resisting Gwen. Patty took it from her hands as meekly asa child, and Deb heaved a deep sigh of relief when she saw the lastdrop swallowed. 

''Tis a great gift to be determined in your will, ' she said to Gwen. 'Patty never has had any who could master her. We be both somasterful; that is where all the trouble cometh between us. '

'Determination, or, rather, self will, has been my curse, ' said Gwen, with a smile and a sigh. 

'Now has it now?' said Deb, leaning her bare elbows on the bed rail, and looking at her with interest. 'Folk do say in the village that youmet with a deal o' trouble out in them foreign parts, and some haythenrascal robbed you of all you stood up in. When you come to see usafter your return, we kept quiet, not likin' to ask; but Patty says tome when you'd a gone, "She's been through a deal o' trouble, for therebe hard lines on her face, and a sad ring in her laugh, " and we feltmortal sorry for you, my dear. '

'Tis a good thing to have a will, ' said Patty from her pillows, 'solong as it don't get above the Lord's will. '

'That it couldn't never do, ' quickly returned Deb; 'for God Almightycan snap a body's will like dry twigs, and He be our Master. 'Tis ablasphemous thing to try to get the better o' our Maker; and MissGwen's will be not that sort. '

'I think it has been, ' said Gwen, sitting down and softly stroking oneof Patty's withered old hands. 'I thought I could manage my life andeverybody else's independent of God, and He has shown me my mistake. It has been a bitter lesson, but I hope I have learnt it. '

There was silence. Something in the simplicity and quaintness of thisold couple always drew out Gwen's best feelings, and she spoke to themof things she would never mention to any one else. 

'We've heerd say, ' said Deb, after a pause, 'that all you young ladieshave lost your money. But that, may be, is only a tale. '

'Very close to truth, ' said Gwen; 'and my earnest desire is to earn asmuch money as possible. Can you tell me how to do it?'

'Young ladies set about such things different to us, ' said Deb, thoughtfully. 

Patty looked up quickly. 

'If so be that this is my last sickness, you'll not be long after me, Deb, I'm thinkin', and then what about the golden russet? Will MissGwen like to have the use o' it?'

Gwen thought her mind was wandering, until she saw how fearfully Deblooked round the room, as if afraid any neighbour might be withinhearing. 

'Hush you now! 'Tis not the time to be talkin' of our savin's. MissGwen will take no notice o' such talk. '

And Gwen did not, only chatted on till Patty seemed to grow morerestless, and then she took her leave. When she told Agatha how shehad found them, Agatha at once resolved to send the doctor. 

'She may die. So often, when once people like her give up and take totheir bed, they never leave it again. '

The doctor went, and thought very gravely of Patty's state. Agatha andGwen were constant visitors at the cottage, and did much to comfortpoor Deb, who, now convinced that her sister might never recover, wasoverwhelmed with misery. 

'We come into the world together, and we're bound to go out together, 'she kept repeating; 'it ain't likely as how she'll leave me behind. '

And if a neighbour would assure her that she was well and strong, andlikely to survive her sister for many years, she would only shake herhead and say, ''Tis against nature; and if so be as her days arenumbered, then so is mine, and I shall be taken, disease or no disease. '

She went about the cottage in a solemn way, turning out old hoards, writing in crabbed handwriting directions about various matters, andGwen came upon a scrap of paper one day with the following items:--

 Cost of two plain coffins . . . Parish clerk's fee . . . . . . . Bit of ground by the corner yew. Bearers for Patty . . . . . . . Bearers for Deborah . . . . . . 

The spaces left she evidently meant to fill up. Gwen promptly burntthe paper, and took her to task about it; but nothing would comforther, or convince her that by any possibility she could outlive hersister. 

And then one evening, quietly and simply, like a little child, Pattypassed away. Her last words were to her sister:--

'The good Lord has got me, Deb, and He'll not let me fall. '

Deb sat by her bedside as one stunned. She looked up pitifully whenGwen came to her side. 

'I'm still here--but I'm just waitin' my call. '

It was with difficulty that she could be induced to eat anything, andwhen the time came for Patty to be carried to the grave, she saw thelittle party of mourners set out in stony unconcern. 

'They might have let her bide till I were ready to go, too. It'll be adouble expense, and I can't be here much longer. '

Gwen's heart went out to the desolate old woman, and she hardly let aday pass without going over to see her. About a week after, she wentone afternoon, but found the house closed. The stillness and desertionof the cottage sent a thrill of fear through her. Fearing that Deb'smind had become slightly unhinged, she wondered if she had destroyedher own life. She tried the door, but it was locked; and then shenoticed a piece of paper tucked into the sill. Taking it out, sheread:--

'If you be Miss Gwen, the key is under the water butt; if you be anyother body, let it be. Deb. '

Gwen took the key up, unlocked the door, and went in. The kitchen wasspotlessly clean, the grate shining with blacklead. On the square dealtable lay a letter with her name upon it. But before reading it, Gwenhastily searched the house, to make certain that it was empty, and thenshe perused the badly written epistle. 

'Miss Gwen, --

'Your humble servant Deborah Howlitt write these lines to you hoping itmay find you as it leaves her at present knowing your kind heart, and Ialways did have a leaning towards you more than most, and so did Pattyfor her said you were a woman of good understanding I think it best toleave you all our savings which you will find under our golden russetin my mother's china tea-pot, for Patty said the same when she were adying. And you will use them to save you from the House if your moneyhas gone from you. Will you be so good as to give the clothes in ourchest of drawers to them that need them. We did think of turning ourbrown serges, and if they were ripped round the bottom and braidedafresh would be good Sunday skirts. I have been to our grave threenights running for I heard her calling, but the good God won't take meyet. I'm going to-night, and may be I shall not be back. Patty couldnot say I have not cleaned for there is no speck of dirt to be seen. And now goodbye and never put your will against the Almighty for I ampraying not to do it myself for I am a poor old desolate woman and ifHe says "Live, " I will live, but He seems to say to-night "Come, "and, ---

 "Just as I am, without one plea, But that Thy blood was shed for me, And that Thou bidst me come to Thee, O Lamb of God, I come!"

'Your obedient servant, 'DEBORAH HOWLITT. '

Gwen hurriedly left the cottage after reading this, and went straightto the churchyard. No one evidently had been near Patty's grave thatday, for there, lying in long grass, with her arms crossed on theuncovered mound, and her grey head bowed upon them, was the cold, stiffform of poor Deb. How many hours she had been there in the stillcoldness of an October's night no one could tell; but the doctor putdown her death to grief and exposure. Gwen broke the tidings to Agathawith a sob in her voice. 

'I loved those old women. They were the only friends I had here. '

CHAPTER XIX

The Rightful Heir

 And words of true love pass from tongue to tongue, As singing birds from one bough to another. '--_Longfellow. _

When Gwen had the savings of the old women dug up from the roots oftheir favourite apple-tree, she found to her amazement that no lessthan 95 pounds had been put away in the old teapot, and for some timeshe hesitated about appropriating it. 

Miss Miller came round to advise, for she was most excited about it all. 

'I have been making inquiries, my dear, about their relatives as if youfeel any qualms about taking their savings, I thought you would be gladto hear of their next-of-kin. But they seem to have no one leftbelonging to them. A friend of mine in this neighbourhood was left 300pounds by an old nurse once. She founded a parish room and club withit, and I need not say that if you wish to give it away in charity, Ishall be very glad to advise you. I said to Wilfrid that I did notbelieve you would keep it yourself, for though tales have been flyingabout that you and your two younger sisters have lost your money, I cansee that you are not destitute. You still keep a very good table, forMrs. Stone tells me she supplies you with poultry and eggs, and is notable to sell me her fowls under 2s. 6d; as she says you always give afair price for your things. '

'I have quite made up my mind about the way in which I shall use it, Miss Miller, ' said Gwen, trying hard to speak politely. 

There was never any love lost between that good lady and herself, andAgatha dreaded every encounter between them. 

'On some pet charity of your own?'

'You may call it so, if you like;' and nothing more would Gwen say onthe subject. 

Later on, she told Agatha she would send it straight to Walter. 

'He is on my mind dreadfully. Not one word of reproach did he evergive me, and I am thankful I can help him this much. It is more of acharity to give it to him than let it drift through Miss Miller'sfingers. What an odious woman she is!'

'Oh, hush! I can't bear to hear you talk so. She has no tact, andmakes many blunders, but is really thoroughly kind at heart. I nevermind her speeches. I don't think any one does who really knows her. But I am very glad you are sending it out to Walter, and I shall beable to add a little to it when you do so. Our expenses are very smallnow, and if you will not let me spend any on yourself, I shall gladlysend it abroad. '

'How well old Nannie's text has fitted into your life!' said Gwen, musing: '"Trust in the Lord, and do good, . . . And verily thou shaltbe fed. " You have proved that promise true, for you are the only oneof us all that is provided for life. '

I think we have all been cared for so far, ' said Agatha quietly. 'Youwill find your verse no less true than mine: "Commit thy way unto theLord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass. "'

Gwen was silent. She could not talk freely about her feelings to anyone, but she had, as she expressed it to Deb, 'learnt her lesson. ' Herself-confidence had been shaken to the roots, and she was no longerdesirous of following her own plans to the exclusion of all advice fromothers. Having discovered that she could make mistakes, she began towonder whether her life had not been full of them; and the gradualconviction of this drove her to her knees, and led her to the feet ofthe great Teacher as a little child. 

One evening, soon after poor Deb's death, Agatha and Gwen were sittingdown to a cosy evening together, when they were surprised by the suddenentrance of Alick Lester. He seemed strangely perturbed, and veryanxious to pour out his trouble into Agatha's ears. When Gwen made amovement to go, he begged her to remain. 

'You will all know it soon. It will be no secret, but I'd give a gooddeal to have prevented it coming out now. May I begin from thebeginning?'

Then, taking a seat, he plunged into it at once. 

'You know I found some papers in my father's cupboard. He knew ofthem, but had never given me a hint of it, except that he had made mepromise to be home if possible last autumn. It appears that mygrandfather before he died made a codicil to his will, and handed itover to the keeping of my father, forbidding him to ever show it to anyone, until the right time came to act upon it. I suppose the poor oldman may have wished to right matters a little, and had got over hisbitterness about my father's marriage. I know he took a good deal ofnotice of me as a small boy, but I never dreamt he had any specialreason for it. The codicil simply transferred the whole of hisproperty from the hands of my uncle to myself when I should reach mytwenty-sixth year. This I did last September, and this accounts for myfather's anxiety to have me back at that time. It appears now that myuncle's valet got wind of this--how, and where, I can't imagine--but hetold my uncle he knew my father held some important papers in his handsthat concerned him. And after my father's death, as you know, MissDane, my uncle came down here to try and get hold of them. Well, afterour return, I suppose the delight of having Roger back again put thewhole affair out of my uncle's head, but lately he hasn't been verywell--at least that is the most charitable way to look at it--and hehas been perpetually nagging at me about the contents of the cupboard, and asking to see them. '

'I cannot think why you did not show them at once to him, ' interruptedAgatha. 

The young fellow looked a little confused. 

'I daresay you may think me an ass, but I could not for the life of mebear the thought of turning the old man out after all these years. Hehasn't got many more years to live, and has seemed so perfectly securein his possession that I hadn't the heart to show the codicil to him. Of course, I know most people would call me a fool--our old lawyerpractically did so--but I put off doing anything about it, as much forthe sake of Roger, perhaps, as his father. 

'Well, last night I lost my temper, and when my uncle began to attackmy father's good name, and hint that he had dishonourably kept familypapers from the head of the family, I whipped out the codicil in hisface, and asked him to read it through. Of course there was an awfulrow. At first he thought I had forged it, and he telegraphed to hislawyer, who came down the first thing this morning, and we had a greatconsultation in the library. Then my uncle shut himself up in hisroom, and has refused to see me since. I don't know how it will allend. I have begged and implored Roger to persuade him to stay on, andlet things be as they were; but he won't hear of it, and meditatesleaving at once. I feel awfully low about it, but what can I do?'

'You are a very quixotic young man, ' said Gwen, unable to keep fromsmiling at the woe-begone face in front of her. 'You should bethankful it's all out, and your uncle knows the truth. '

'Yes, and to a certain extent I am. But I don't want them to clearout, and leave me in possession. I never expected to be a rich man, and don't altogether like the idea of settling down here. '

Gwen laughed again, and left the room, saying, 'You shouldn't quarrelwith good fortune when it comes to you. '

For a moment there was silence, then Alick turned to Agatha a littleawkwardly, a blush coming to his bronzed cheeks. 

'Miss Dane, do you know my one comfort in all this? It is thinkingthat now I have a right to speak to your sister. '

'To Elfie?' asked Agatha. 

'Yes, I am sure you won't raise an objection, will you? I know I'm nothalf good enough for her; but if she'll only listen to me, I feel as iflife will be too good to live. '

And for the next half-hour Agatha listened to a flow of eloquence onElfie's perfections, which amused and yet touched her, for it showedher how deeply devoted the young man was in his love. 

Major Lester was not long in leaving the Hall. He announced hisintention of travelling abroad with his son, and before a month wasgone Alick was left alone. The cousins parted with mutual regret. Roger took the blow to his future prospects bravely and manfully, andtold Alick that he looked forward to see his bride at the Hall verysoon. 

And then, one day, without a word to any one, Alick travelled down toDane Hall. 

Elfie had been having a trying time--a time that tested all her powersof cheerfulness to carry her through it. Mrs. Dane was confined to herroom with bronchitis, not ill enough to lie still and leave theresponsibility of her household to Elfie, but perpetually questioningthe girl's management, and giving contrary orders to the servants, whowere all in a state of irritation and turbulence. Mr. Dane wasimpatient of the slightest hitch in the domestic machinery, and, nowthat his wife was too indisposed to hear his complaints, vented all hisill-humour upon his young cousin. 

But Elfie's sunny temper did not forsake her; and if, in the privacy ofher own room, home-sickness and loneliness got the better of her attimes, she always preserved a cheerful front in public, and earnestlystrove, not only to do her duty, but to be happy in doing it, and tomake those around her happy too. 

It was a bright, spring afternoon, when, at last relieved fromattendance on the invalid, Elfie took her hat and went out into thegarden to enjoy the fresh air and sunshine. She was singing away toherself and gathering some jonquils for the dinner-table, when she wasjoined by her cousin James. 

'Elfrida, I am told that neither of the carriage horses can be takenout. It is extraordinary that with four horses doing hardly anythingthere should be this constant difficulty in getting one of them todrive. '

'Yes, ' said Elfie a little carelessly, 'I have always heard that themore horses you have the less work you get out of them. Where do youwant to go, Cousin James? Can't you take Firefly in the dog-cart?'

'It does not matter to you where I wish to go. I wish to drive thepair, and I am convinced this new groom is an utterly incompetent man. Ever since we have been in this house we have had a perpetual change ofservants, and I was in hopes that when you came it would be different. '

'I am not responsible for your grooms. I have nothing to do withthem, ' said Elfie brightly. 'I should ask Fenton what he think of thisnew groom. '

'Fenton is insufferable with his insolent bearing and behaviour, andyou encourage him in his familiarity. I heard you were taking tea withhim and his wife yesterday. I must beg you never to do such a thingagain as long as you are under my roof. '

'You must remember, Cousin James, Fenton has known us all since we weretiny children. He gave us our first riding lessons, and Aunt Mildredtreated him very differently to most of the servants. He lived withher for forty years, he was telling me. '

'I don't wish for any arguments, if I give you an order. I think yousometimes forget your position with us. You are here to relieve yourcousin Helen of all worry and anxiety about household matters, and ithas been a great disappointment to us both that you seem incapable ofkeeping things straight. I hear that the cook is leaving, and has beenexceedingly insolent to your cousin, telling her that she will not havetwo mistresses. I do not wish to interfere in these matters, but Imust request you to make more effort to maintain the disciplinenecessary in such a large household. '

Elfie was so accustomed to these daily grumblings that she went onpicking her flowers in silence; the brightness of the day seemedalready clouded for her, and she gave an involuntary sigh, as after alittle further complaining her cousin walked away. 

'They have it all, wealth and comfort all round them; and yet are twodiscontented, miserable people. I wouldn't exchange places with themfor all the world. '

'A gentleman in the drawing-room has called to see you, miss. '

It was the footman brought the message. 

Elfie started, flushed, and then went into the house to meet her fate. There was only one person it could be, and her instinct told her thatlife would be different after this interview to what it was at present. Her time of uncertainty and waiting was now at an end, and Dane Hallwould soon be her home no more. 

CHAPTER XX

Brought Back

 'Far, far above thy thought His wisdom shall appear, When fully He this work hath wrought, That caused thy needless fear!'

Three months later. Jasmine Cottage was full of lively voices andlaughter. Clare and Elfie were both at home, the former for a month'sholiday, and the latter till she left it to take up her quarters in theHall as bride and mistress. Alick was there, with no cloud upon hisbrow, and full of eager anticipation of all that he was going to doupon the estate in the future; and Agatha and Clare looked on at theyoung couple with interest and sympathy. They were gathered togetherin the verandah, and Gwen only was absent. Alick presently asked forher. 

'She has gone to London to her publishers. You will be interested toknow, Alick, that it is about your father's manuscripts. Gwen hasfinished them at last, and it is to consult about bringing them out, that she has gone. We expect her back every moment. '

Agatha looked along the road as she spoke, and Alick's eyes followedher gaze. 

'Here she comes; I know her walk!' he exclaimed. 'Rapid, defiant, andindifferent to all around!'

'You shall not talk of her like that, ' remonstrated Elfie, 'and itisn't true of her. '

'I admire her awfully, only I'm just a little bit afraid of her. '

'I don't believe you're afraid of any one!'

Here Gwen appeared on the scene. She seemed flushed and ratherperturbed. 

'Have I got my business done satisfactorily? Yes, I hope I have. Agatha, I am famishing; have you got anything for me to eat? That'sright. I will go straight into the dining-room now. '

Agatha followed her in. 

'You look tired out. Sit down, and I will pour you out a cup ofcoffee. I expected you back earlier. '

'I was detained. '

For a few minutes there was silence. Then Gwen leant back in her chairand regarded Agatha with serious eyes. 

'You're a safe old thing. I think I can trust you, ' she said. 'Firstof all tell me, do you think Clare happy now?'

'I have never known her so happy in her life before, ' said Agatha, wondering at Gwen's tone. 'Of course, I know she has her sad times, but she is far sweeter and even-tempered than she used to be. MissVillars was telling me the other day, she has found her niche exactly. All the visitors at the Convalescent Home are loud in their praiseother, and I really think her heart is in it. '

'Then it would be a pity to disturb her. '

'What do you mean?'

'Well, the fact is, I heard in town to-day rumours about Hugh turningup at some mission station in Africa. People say he was never killedafter all. I went to the Foreign Office about it. They know forcertain it is some English officer, but cannot be sure it is Hugh. '

'Oh, Gwen!'

Agatha seemed too dazed by the news to say more at first. 

'We must keep it to ourselves for the present. It would be dreadfulfor her if it proved a false report, ' continued Gwen; 'and really, sheseems so resigned now, that one dreads the effect of such news uponher. Do you think she ever really cared for him? I have my doubts. Iremember how restless, and discontented she used to be when he wasalive; and look at the change in her now!'

'Yes, ' said Agatha quietly; 'but the change is not due to his death, Gwen. Clare has found out for herself the truth of Nannie's verse forher. She was always restless until she came to the Rest-giver, and nowshe is at peace. Circumstances do not sway her as they used to do. '

'Well, ' said Gwen, after a slight pause, 'I hope it may be true, if shereally loves him. It is like a story-book, the long-lost lover come tolife again! Don't say a word to any one. They have promised to sendus the first information they receive. '

For the next few days both Agatha and Gwen appeared to the others veryrestless and pre-occupied; but as a week or two passed away withoutfurther tidings, they tried to banish it from their thoughts, and in ameasure succeeded. 

Gwen was delighted at the prospects of her book coming out, and hopedto realize a good sum from it, more than she at one time could havethought possible to be earned by her pen. And when, a little later, she received the first instalment of it, she sent a cheque straight outto Meta Seton. 

'I feel convinced, ' she confided to Agatha, 'that she still cares forWalter; and it is only her father that has insisted upon her breakingit off. I should be so thankful if they came together again. InWalter's last letter he mentions having met her, and I think that theymay have arrived at a secret understanding with one another; he writesin much better spirits. '

'If she is a wife worth having, she would never desert him for hispoverty, ' said Agatha. 

Gwen shook her head and sighed, for she knew the world better thansimple-minded Agatha did. But her writing took her mind off thestartling news she had heard, and Agatha was equally engrossed inpreparing Elfie's trousseau, so that though they were always on thewatch for any news in the papers, they did not mention the subject toone another, and it was a distinct shock to Agatha to receive atelegram one morning. 

'Captain Hugh Knox alive. Coming home. Break it to his friends. '

Clare was doing some work for Elfie when the telegram arrived. Agathahastily consulted Gwen in the study, and then came into thedining-room, where the two younger girls were sitting. 

'Who is the telegram from?' asked Elfie quickly. 'We have so few herethat Clare and I are quite curious about it. '

Agatha sat down, and her hands trembled as she unfolded and refoldedthe yellow envelope in her grasp. 

'It contains very strange news, ' she said slowly 'wonderfully strange, and I don't quite know how to tell it to you. '

Both Clare and Elfie dropped their work instantly, for they saw heragitation. 

'Not bad news?' exclaimed Clare. 

'No; very, very good news for you, Clare. '

Clare's cheeks grew pale at once. 

'Oh, Agatha, speak out; don't keep us in suspense any longer!'

And then Agatha said as quietly as she could:

'It is about Hugh, Clare. Can you bear it? He was never killed, afterall, and this is to say that he is coming home. '

Clare did not faint, nor call out, nor did she utter a word. Only thequick blood rushing to her cheeks, and then as quickly ebbing fromthem, showed that she was moved at all. Motionless she sat, staringout of the window as if she were in a dream. Then at last she spoke. 

'Oh, Agatha, I shall never forgive you if it is not true!'

The vehement intensity of her tone drew Agatha to her side at once. Stooping over her she kissed her. 'My darling Clare, it is true. Thank God with all your heart that it is so!'

And then in a few minutes a burst of tears relieved the overchargedbrain, and Clare fled to her room, there to thank on her knees for suchunlooked-for joy. 

The days that followed were trying ones, but Clare bore them well. Shewent to see her lover's family, and it was there in the Yorkshire homethat she met the long-lost one again. 

Captain Knox seemed but a shadow of his former self. Fever andprivations had told upon him, and Clare shuddered when she heard hisstory. For many months he had been kept captive amongst the nativetribe that had taken him and his comrades by surprise in the bush. Hewas subject to much cruelty and many indignities, but at last managedto make his escape, and for some months lived in the thick forests, striving to find his way back to civilization. At last he was found bya missionary, almost at the point of death, and tenderly nursed back tohealth and strength at a small mission station. It was some time, however, before he could send tidings of his escape, and long before hewas well enough to be brought down to the coast. He had much to tellto Clare, and also much to hear. 

'I cannot believe it is really you, ' she said to him, when alone withhim one day; 'I keep wondering if I shall wake up and find it all adream. '

'You had become accustomed to live without me, had you?' he said, smiling. 'Would you rather I had not come back to disturb your lifeagain? You seem to be so happy in your present work. '

'Oh, Hugh, if you only knew what I have gone through, you would nottalk so! I don't think you have been out of my thoughts for a singleday. God has helped me to bear your loss, but I never knew how yourlife was woven into mine, till the awful news came that I had lost you!'

'We will not think about it, ' said Captain Knox, with deep feeling. 'We have been brought together again, thank God, and I believe we areboth the better for what we have suffered. It is wonderful to see theway that we are led, and the goodness and love that brings sweet out ofbitter, and blessing out of evil. '

'And, ' said Clare softly, as she leaned her head against his shoulder, and felt the support of his strong arm round her, 'we have both beendrawn inside the kingdom, Hugh. That is the best of all. We willserve our Master together, and not death itself can separate us now. '

One more scene before we leave the four sisters. Nannie is theconspicuous figure in it. She has been brought to Jasmine Cottage, andit is the eve of Elfie's marriage. The girls were gathered round herin the cosy bedroom that had been prepared for her, and they were fullof mirth and happiness. 

Gwen had been astonishing them by a piece of news that she had beenkeeping to herself for a long time, and this was that she had at lastlistened to Clement Arkwright, and was engaged to him. 

'They say that if one wedding comes off in a family, others are sure tofollow, ' she said, by way of excusing herself; 'and he has beenbothering my life out lately. I never seem to go up to town withouttumbling across him somewhere. I think I have no spirit left to resisthim as I used to do. But one thing I have told him, and that is thathe will have to wait till I have cleared off more of my debts. '

'You have no debts, ' said Agatha; 'it is nonsense to talk like that. '

'I shall never lift up my head and breathe freely till I have at anyrate returned Walter his money, ' said Gwen very emphatically. 

'Ay, my dear, ' put in Nannie affectionately; 'we'd rather your headweren't lifted just yet. 'Tis apt to rear itself a little too high, and 'tis the bowed head that gets the blessing of the Lord. '

'Nannie, ' said Elfie impulsively, 'say our verses to us again, willyou? Do you remember when you gave them to us? Put your hands on ourheads as you used to do when we were little children, and we willreceive them again as your blessing. '

And this Nannie did; and as she repeated the beautiful words, eachsister confessed in the depths of her heart what a blessing they hadbeen to her. 

'Trust in the Lord and do good, so shalt thou dwell in the land, andverily thou shalt be fed. '

'Delight thyself also in the Lord, and He shall give thee the desiresof thine heart. '

'Commit thy way unto the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring itto pass. '

'Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him. . . . Those that waitupon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth. '

'And, ' said Agatha, 'the key-note to that Psalm is, "Fret not. " Wethought it a terrible blow when Cousin James defrauded us of ourrights; but how wonderfully we have been cared for since!'

'Even when I did my best to ruin the whole lot of you, ' put in Gwen. 

And then Nannie repeated the last verse of her favourite Psalm:

'And the Lord shall help them and deliver them: He shall deliver themfrom the wicked, and save them because they trust in Him. '

FINIS.