naged that. Now if they
don't make it up, it won't be my fault.'

'You are a foolish child,' Philip responded, as he turned round from
his writing to draw me to him. 'Why should you be so anxious to bring
them together?'

'Because,' I said, as I laid my cheek lightly against his, 'I want them
to be as happy as we are, Philip, and I believe they will be.'

Miss Rayner returned from her morning in the East End very quiet and
preoccupied. I asked no questions, but was surprised when later in the
day she said to me, 'I must leave you to-morrow, Hilda. I have done my
business, and am longing to get out of London. It never suits me. I
feel as if I cannot breathe here.'

'You promised to stay till the end of the week,' I said reproachfully.

'Circumstances alter cases,' she rejoined briefly.

This did not sound very hopeful. I was silent, not knowing very well
what to say. Presently she said, with a short little laugh, 'I am
always outspoken, Hilda, so I'll tell you frankly that if you had not
Mr. Ratcliffe hanging about this part I might have lengthened my visit.
I cannot stand the chance of meeting him again.'

'Why?' I asked innocently.

'Why?' she repeated. 'You know my story, and he will not let bygones
be bygones, but insisted this morning upon dragging up old memories
that are best left buried. In fact, he wants things to be as they once
were, and they cannot.'

'Oh, Miss Rayner, why not?' I again exclaimed.

'Because we are old and grey,' she said, laughing; 'because he has
drifted into ways of his own, and into mine. It would be ridiculous
and besides I--I should be no help to him. I am such a beginner.'

She turned from me quickly and left the room.

I was perplexed and disturbed. I had felt sure that my little plan was
going to succeed, and I was very disappointed at its apparent failure.
I knew that she still cared for him, and why she would persist in
standing in her own light, and putting such happiness from her, I could
not imagine!

That evening Miss Rayner and I were dining alone as Philip had an
engagement out. I was a little anxious about him, as he was only just
recovering from a bad cold, and made him wrap up very warmly before he
went. Miss Rayner said to me at dinner, 'I am afraid your husband's
health is a great anxiety to you.'

'It is a little cloud to our happiness,' I said, 'but we are not
troubled. I always feel He is in God's hands; I suppose we shall never
have u