ly, Arthur
entered, and Graeme made a movement among her cups and saucers.

"Your trip has done you good, Graeme," said Arthur, as he sat down
opposite to her.

"Yes, indeed. There is nothing like the sea-breezes, to freshen one. I
hardly know myself for the tired, exhausted creature you sent away in
June."

Graeme, Rose, and Will, had passed the summer at Cacouna. Nelly had
gone with them as housekeeper, and Arthur had shut the house, and taken
lodgings a little out of town for the summer.

"I am only afraid," added Graeme, "that all our pleasure has been at the
expense of some discomfort to you."

"By no means, a change is agreeable. I have enjoyed the summer very
much. I am glad to get home again, however."

"Yes, a change does one good. If I was only quite at ease about one
thing, we might have gone to Merleville, instead of Cacouna, and that
would have given Janet and a good many others pleasure."

"Oh! I don't know," said Arthur. "The good people there must have
forgotten us by this time, I fancy. There are no sea-breezes there, and
they were what you needed."

"Arthur! Janet forgotten us! Never, I am quite sure of that. But at
the time it seemed impossible to go, to make the effort, I mean. I
quite shrunk from the thought of Merleville. Indeed, if you had not
been firm, I fear I should not have had the sea-breezes."

"Yes. You owe me thanks. You needed the change. What with Will's
illness, and Harry's going away, and one thing and another; you were
quite in need of a change."

"I was not well, certainly," said Graeme. "Will has gone to the post, I
suppose?"

"Yes," said Rose, who entered at the moment. "I see him coming up the
street."

"As for Rosie," said Arthur, looking at her gravely, as she sat down.
"She has utterly ruined her complexion. Such freckles! such sunburning!
and how stout she has grown!"

Rose laughed.

"Yes, I know I'm a fright. You must bring me something, Arthur.
Toilette vinegar, or something."

"Oh! it would not signify. You are quite beyond all that."

"Here comes Will, with a letter for each of us, I declare."

Arthur's letter was soon despatched, a mere business missive. Graeme's
was laid down beside her, while she poured Will's coffee. Rose read
hers at once, and before she was well down the first page, she uttered a
cry of delight.

"Listen all. No, I won't read it just yet. Arthur, don't you remember
a conversation that you and I had