hose years, made the happiness of
her husband and her home still, and after all the changes that life had
brought she was content. No one could doubt that. And Graeme asked
herself, would it ever be so with her? Would she ever cease to regret
the irrevocable past and learn to grow happy in a new way? She prayed
that it might be so. She longed for the tranquil content of those old
days before her heart was startled from its girlhood's quiet. How long
it seemed since she had been quite at peace with herself! Would she
ever be so again? It did not seem possible. She tried in vain to fancy
herself among other scenes, with other hopes, and friends, and
interests. And yet, here was Janet, not of a light or changeful nature;
how she had loved, and lost, and suffered! And yet she had grown
content?

"What are you thinking about, Graeme?" said Will, who, as well as Mr
Snow, had been watching her troubled face, Graeme started.

"Oh! of a great many things. I don't know why it should have come to my
mind just now, but I was thinking of a day in Merleville, long ago--an
Indian-summer day. I remember walking about among the fallen leaves,
and looking over the pond to the hills beyond, wondering foolishly, I
suppose, about what the future might bring to us all. How lovely it was
that day!"

"And then you came and stood within the gate, and hardly gave me a look
as I passed out. I mind it, very well," said Mr Snow.

"I was not friends with you that day. But how should you remember it?
How should you know it was that day, of which I was thinking?"

"I saw, by your face, you were thinking of old times, and of all the
changes that had come to you and yours; and it was on that day you first
heard of one of them. That is how I came to think of it."

"And then you came into the house, and called me from the foot of the
stairs. You werena well pleased with me, either, that day," said Mrs
Snow.

"Oh! I was afraid; and you spoke to me of aunt Marian, and of our own
Menie, and how there might be sadder changes than even your going away.
Ah, me! I don't think I have been quite at peace with myself since that
night."

"Miss Graeme! my dear," expostulated Mrs Snow.

"No, I have ay been afraid to find myself at peace. But I am glad of
one thing, though I did not think that day it would ever make me glad.
Uncle Sampson, did I ever tell you--I am afraid I never did--how glad I
am now, that you were stronger than I was,