athy, and to
the end of time the memory of golden hours.

Piers's visits increased in number, and he was unceasing in his efforts
for all that concerned the welfare of the two inmates of the Cottage.
In his presence Vanna expanded like a flower in the sun. Love, the
magician, worked his spell upon mind and body, so that beholding her own
likeness in the glass she would often blush again, as she had blushed on
the afternoon of Piers's first visit. Her pale cheeks were tinged with
colour, her eyes shone, her very hair showed rich russet gleams as she
wandered bare-headed in the sun. The sound of her own laugh, the
aptness of her own words, astonished and delighted no one so much as
herself: it was as if a hundred unsuspected beauties and charms, after
lying latent all her life, had sprung suddenly to birth. There were
moments when, from sheer pride and self-congratulation, she came near
following Gwendoline Harleth's historic example, and kissing her own
reflection in the glass. "I am happy!" she told herself triumphantly.
"This is happiness--the best I shall ever know. I must realise it,
enjoy every moment, enjoy it to the full. I must guard it preciously,
shut my eyes and ears to all the little jars and frets, and not _allow_
them to interrupt. It is my golden time. In years to come, I must be
able to look back and remember that I made the most of it when it was
mine. It would be madness to waste an hour..."

Meanwhile the two old ladies looked on with silent understanding. Mrs
Rendall had been in her own way an ardent admirer of Vanna in the
earlier days of their acquaintance; but a mother looks with changed eyes
upon a girl whom she suspects her son of honouring with his love. No
one is worthy of that honour, and it is rarely indeed that an element of
coolness and jealousy does not tinge the former affection. Mrs Rendall
pursed her lips at the mention of Vanna Strangeways, and no longer
pressed for repetitions of the weekly visits.

To Miggles it was unalloyed joy to behold the growing attachment between
the two young people whom she loved so dearly. Never by word or deed
did she hint at her desire; but as the months passed by and her health
steadily declined, she hugged the thought that when her hour came the
dear child who had comforted her last days would find another and a
sweeter home. An ever-increasing feebleness warned her that her days
were numbered, though so far she had been spared severe s