and prevailed--in taking
Janet from us, I mean?"

She was standing behind him, so that he did not see her face. He did
not turn round, or try to see it. He looked towards his wife, with a
grave smile.

"I don't think you ever told me in words."

"No, because it is only a little while that I have been really glad; it
is only since your coming has made me sure she is happier--far happier
with you and Emily and Sandy, than ever we could make her now; almost as
happy as she deserves to be."

"I reckon, the happiness ain't all on one side of the house, by a great
deal," said Mr Snow, gravely.

"No, I know that--I am sure of that. And I am glad--so glad, that it
reconciles me to the knowledge that we can never be quite the same to
her as we used to be, and that is saying much."

"Ain't you most afraid that it might hurt her to hear you say so?" said
Mr Snow, his eyes never leaving his wife's face. They were quite alone
by this time. Will had obeyed the call of the children, and was gone
away.

"No, I am not afraid. She knows I would not hurt her willingly, by word
or deed, so you must let me say how very glad I am we lost her, for her
sake. And when I remember all that she has lived through--all the
sorrow she has seen; knowing her steadfast, loving, heart, and how
little she is given to change, yet seeing her happy, and with power to
make others happy, it gives me courage to look into the future; it makes
me less afraid."

His eyes left his wife's face now, and turned, with a look of wonder, to
Graeme.

"What is it, dear?" he asked. "Is there anything I may not know?"

"No. Only I am glad for Janet's sake, and for yours, and for mine, too,
because--"

It would not have been easy to say more, and, besides, the others were
coming up the walk, and, partly because there were tears in her eyes,
and partly because she shrunk nervously from the excessive friendliness
with which it seemed to be Mrs Grove's intention on the occasion to
distinguish her, she turned, hoping to escape. She did not succeed,
however, and stood still at the door, knowing very well what would be
Mrs Grove's first remark.

"Ah! I see you have an eye for the beautiful."

She had heard her say it just as many times as she had stood with her on
that very beautiful spot; and she never expected to stand there without
hearing it, certainly not if, as on the present occasion, there were
strangers there too. It was varied a little, this