sed very quietly, with only common pleasures to mark them, but
they were happy days for all that; and Graeme, seeing her sister's
half-veiled pleasure when Charlie came, and only half conscious
impatience when he stayed away, smiled to herself as she repeated, "It
will all come right."

It was a fair April day; a little colder than April days are generally
supposed to be, but bright and still--just the day for a long walk, all
agreed; and Rose went up-stairs to prepare to go out, singing out of a
light heart as she went. Graeme hastened to finish something that she
had in her hand, that she might follow, and then a visitor came, and
before Rose came down with her hat on, another came; and the one that
came last, and stayed longest, was their old friend, and Harry's
aversion, Mrs Gridley. Rose had reconciled herself to the loss of her
walk, by this time, and listened amused to the various subjects
discussed, laying up an item now and then, for Harry's special benefit.
There was variety, for this was her first visit for a long time.

After a good many interesting excursions among the affairs of their
friends and neighbours, she brought them back in her pleasant way to
their own.

"By the by, is it true that young Roxbury is going into business with
Mr Millar and your brother?"

"We have not bees informed of any such design," said Rose.

"Your brother is away just now, is he not? Will he return? Young men
who have done business elsewhere, are rather in the habit of calling our
city slow. I hope your brother Harry does not. Is young Roxbury to
take his place in the firm, or are all three to be together?"

"Harry does not make his business arrangements the subject of
conversation very often," said Graeme, gravely.

"He is quite right," said Mrs Gridley. "And I daresay, young Roxbury
would not be a great acquisition to the firm, though his father's money
might. However, some of _that_ may be got in a more agreeable way. Mr
Millar is doing his best, they say. But, Amy Roxbury is little more
than a child. Still some very foolish marriages seem to turn out very
well. Am I not to see Mrs Elliott, to-day? She is a very devoted
mother, it seems."

"She would have been happy to see you, if she had been at home."

"And she is quite well again? What a relief it must be to you," said
Mrs Gridley, amiably. "And you are all quite happy together! I
thought you were going to stay at the West, Rose?"

"I could no