honest and good, and is presentable; you might do
worse, I suppose; only don't be hurried into a hasty marriage, I
implore you. Get to know each other through and through first. Ah!
well, you have knocked down one of my castles in the air, but I might
have expected it! I am sure I wish you every happiness, child.' A
quick sigh followed her words, and then she called out brightly to us
as she got into her trap,--

'Come over and dine with me both of you one night; if not now, when
next you come down, Mr. Stanton. I suppose you will be continually
hovering about this neighbourhood now!'

The last day of Philip's visit soon came. I drove down to the station
to see him off, but I dreaded the parting.

'You must write to me often, and tell me all about yourself,' he said,
trying to speak cheerfully; 'and when Easter comes I have a plan in my
head. I shall get a cousin of mine to come down with her husband to
Cobham Hall, and then she will help me entertain my visitors. I shall
invite all of you down, for I want you to see your future home,
childie. Meanwhile, I shall doubtless be able to run down here for a
day or two and see you. Mrs. Forsyth has kindly asked me to do so
whenever I can.'

'Yes,' I said; 'the future looks very bright to me, almost too bright
sometimes, I think. Oh, how good God has been!'

Then after a moment's silence I said, 'I shall miss you so, Philip. It
will seem like a dream.'

'You will "dwell deep,"' he said, smiling as he quoted my favourite
verse. 'We are not solely dependent on each other's presence for
happiness, are we? We shall be able to strengthen each other's hands
by prayer.'

He went; and I think others besides me missed him. His presence made
itself felt wherever it was. Hugh had behaved very well about our
engagement. He said to me, with a grave smile, when first he heard of
it,--

'You have gained a friend, and I have lost one. I ought to be vexed, I
suppose.'

'Oh no,' I replied; 'your friendship with him remains unchanged. You
will find there will be no difference. I cannot be to him what you
are, and if he does not spend quite so much time with you now as he has
done, it will not always be so.'

But he turned away with a laugh and a shake of his head.

We were very quiet for some time after Philip's departure. Constance
went away on a visit to Mr. Stroud's relatives. Kenneth went up to
London, and as I was still far from strong, I was left to do