intending to expostulate still, but
she did not; she went down again, quietly, muttering to herself as she
went,--

"I'll no vex her. She has her ain troubles, I daresay, with her young
brother going away, and many another thing that I ken nothing about. It
would ill set me to add to her vexations. She is not at peace with
herself, that's easy to be seen."

CHAPTER THIRTY.

Graeme was not at peace with herself and had not been so for a long
time, and to-night she was angry with herself for having spoiled Will's
pleasure, by letting him see that she was ill at ease.

"For there is no good vexing him. He cannot even advise me; and,
indeed, I am afraid I have not the courage really to go away."

But she continued to vex herself more than was wise, as she sat there
waiting for the rest in the gathering darkness.

They came at last, but not at all as they ought to have come, with the
air of culprits, but chatting and laughing merrily, and quite at their
leisure, accompanied--to Nelly's indignant satisfaction--by Mrs Grove.
Graeme could hardly restrain an exclamation of amusement as she hastened
toward the door. Rose came first, and her sister's question as to their
delay was stopped by a look at her radiant face.

"Graeme, I have something to tell you. What is the most delightful, and
almost the most unlikely thing that could happen to us?"

Graeme shook her head.

"I should have to consider a while first--I am not good at guessing.
But won't it keep? Nelly is out of all patience."

But Rose was too excited to heed her.

"No; it won't keep. Guess who is coming--Janet!"

Graeme uttered an exclamation of surprise.

"Arthur got a letter from Mr Snow to-day. Read it."

Graeme read, Rose looking over her shoulder.

"I am very glad. But, Rosie, you must make haste. Fanny will be down
in a minute, and Nelly is impatient."

"No wonder! But I must tell her about Mrs Snow."

And with her bonnet in her hand, she went dancing down the kitchen
stairs. Nelly would have been in an implacable humour, indeed, if the
sight of her bright face had not softened her. Regardless of the risk
to muslins and ribbons, she sprang at once into the midst of the delayed
preparations.

"Nelly! Who do you think is coming? You will never guess. I may as
well tell you. Mrs Snow!"

"Eh, me! That's news, indeed. Take care of the gravy, Miss Rose, dear.
And when is she coming?"

There was not the faintest echo of