spoilt. I thought only
of my trouble. Really, God was giving us both our opportunity.
Doubling your happiness, and teaching me a lesson in Faith."

"And me," said Mrs. Carlyle softly, "that under us are always His
supporting arms."

That afternoon Mr. Carlyle left for Farbridge, but Audrey's summons did
not come for a while yet.

Granny Carlyle rallied considerably, and they all began to hope that she
might be spared to them yet. But it was only a temporary rally; and Faith
and the little ones had been home but a few days when a telegram came from
Farbridge, asking that Audrey might come at once, and, instead of starting
for Ilfracombe for a week or two's stay before the Vivians left there too,
Audrey went on a very, very different visit, one that none knew the end
of, for old Mrs. Carlyle was in that state that she might live for years,
or for only a few weeks or days.

Never, in all her life after, did Audrey forget that journey on that hot
August day. The sun poured in at the window on her, the smuts came in in
showers, the compartment felt like an oven, and the hot air was heavy with
the mingled odours of blistering paint, coal smoke, and tar. At every
station at which they stopped the engine panted like an exhausted thing.
The sight of beds of scarlet geraniums glowing in the sun ever after
brought back to Audrey the sights, sounds, and sensations of that hot
summer afternoon.

But at last the journey was over, and Audrey, feeling almost as though she
was walking in a dream, crossed the well-remembered park--where the only
change was that the grass was now burnt brown, and summer flowers took the
place of the tulips and daffodils she had left behind her--and entered
once more the orderly, roomy house which was so little changed that she
might have gone out from it only the day before, except that now the
moving spirit was gone, and the silence was not restful, as of old, but
oppressive.

Phipps met her, with tears in her eyes. "Perhaps you would like to go to
your room first, Miss Audrey. Are you very hot and tired, miss?"

"I think I am," said Audrey wearily, "but that is nothing. How is granny
now, Phipps?"

But Phipps only shook her head, and the tears brimmed over. "I can't say
she is any better, Miss Audrey, and--and I won't say she is worse, I can't
bring myself to," and Phipps began to sob aloud.

"Poor Phipps!" said Audrey in a choky voice. "Is she as bad as that!"
She knew what it all