tell me, child, and you have the best wishes
of both the general and myself. You are exactly suited to each other
in all your peculiar views, and he is able to give you a comfortable
home. I thought when you were first taken ill how it would end, he was
so concerned about you!'

It certainly was a surprise to me that all in the house seemed to have
expected it but myself.

'It stands to reason, my dear Goody,' observed Kenneth when he heard
it, '"that birds of a feather flock together." I think myself he has
the best of the bargain. That is the first compliment I have ever paid
you, I believe!'

I seemed to live in a dream for the next few days, for Mr. Stanton--or
Philip, as I soon learnt to call him--postponed his departure for a
week. He took me out for drives on warm, bright days, and was
continually with me. It seemed to change my whole life, and I could
only thank God again and again for His goodness. I suppose I had been
so accustomed to live my life alone without receiving sympathy or help
from any, that I had ceased to expect it, and Philip's tender, watchful
care over me seemed sometimes more than I could bear.

I broke down one afternoon altogether, and it was only some trifling
little piece of attention on his part that did it. 'You spoil me,' I
cried; 'I have never had any one to care for my likes or dislikes
before. You will make me selfish, Philip. Don't be so good to me.'

'I shall not spoil you,' he responded, with a smile. 'I want to make
your life brighter. You have had plenty of loneliness in it, and now I
have the pleasure of altering all that. Dear child, a little love and
care will not make you selfish.'

CHAPTER XV

A GATHERING CLOUD

'O friend! O best of friends! Thy absence more
Than the impending night darkens the landscape o'er!'--_Longfellow._

'Miss Rayner is in the drawing-room, and would like to see you, miss,'
was the message brought to me one afternoon.

I hastened in. She had been to see me twice whilst I was ill, but
neither time was I well enough to enjoy her visit. I had written to
tell her of my engagement, and was a little doubtful as to how she
would receive the news. I had not heard from her since.

'Well,' she said, drawing me towards her by both hands, 'you haven't
been long about this affair, child! You did not know such a person was
in existence a couple of months ago. And it isn't a curate, after all!'

'Would you rather it had