er? Even in her thoughts, Graeme shrunk
from admitting that Rose might be coming to the knowledge of her own
heart too late for her happiness.

"I will not believe that she has all that to pass through. It cannot be
so bad as that. I will have patience and trust. I cannot speak to her.
It would do no good. I will wait and trust."

Graeme sat long that night listening to the quiet breathing of her
sleeping sister; but all the anxious thoughts that passed through her
mind, could only end in this: "I will wait and trust."

CHAPTER FORTY.

Graeme awoke in the morning to wonder at all the doubts and anxieties
that had filled her mind in the darkness; for she was aroused by baby
kisses on her lips, and opened her eyes to see her sister Rose, with her
nephew in her arms, and her face as bright as the May morning, smiling
down upon her. Rose disappointed and sad! Rose hiding in her heart
hopes that were never to be realised! She listened to her voice,
ringing through the house, like the voice of the morning lark, and
wondered at her own folly. She laughed, as Rose babbled to the child in
the wonderful baby language in which she so excelled; but tears of
thankfulness rose to her eyes as she remembered the fears of the night,
and set them face to face with the joy of the morning.

"I could not have borne it," she said to herself. "I am afraid I never
could have borne to see my darling drooping, as she must have done. I
am content with my own lot. I think I would not care to change anything
the years have brought to me. But Rosie--. Ah! well, I might have
known! I know I ought to trust for Rosie, too, even if trouble were to
come. But oh! I am very glad and thankful for her sake."

She was late in the breakfast-room, and she found Harry there.

"`The early bird,' you know, Graeme," said he. "I have been telling
Rosie what a scolding you were giving me last night on our way home."

"But he won't tell me what it was all about," said Rose.

"I cannot. I don't know myself. I have an idea that you had something
to do with it, Rosie. But I can give no detailed account of the
circumstances, as the newspapers say."

"It is not absolutely necessary that you should," said Graeme, smiling.

"I hope you are in a much better humour this morning, Graeme."

"I think I am in a pretty good humour. Not that I confess to being very
cross last night, however."

"It was he who was cross, I daresay," said Rose.