she had no intention of relenting; and
I knew it was only a cloak to hide her real feelings, and longed to
tear it aside.

I tried all in my power to make conversation easy between them. I
could not bear to see the troubled, pathetic look in Mr. Ratcliffe's
eyes. Miss Rayner was in her worst mood--cynical and hard. She did
not seem to care how she was wounding by her words, and I felt she was
purposely representing herself in the worst light possible. Suddenly a
thought struck me. I knew how music softened her, and quietly taking
out my violin, I asked them if they would like me to play. They
assented, and moving to a distant corner of the room I began. I think
I put all my soul into it, for I was longing the sweet sounds should
soothe and soften her, as they had so often before.

I played on. There was perfect silence in the room. She was sitting
in the firelight, and he, leaning against the chimney-piece, never took
his eyes off her face.

When I at last paused I saw her eyes were moist, and all the hard lines
about her face had entirely disappeared. Without a word I slipped
softly out of the room, and going into Philip's study, I knelt down and
asked that the two hearts and lives that had been so long severed might
be brought together again. Then I waited, and the time seemed long
before I heard the drawing-room door open, and Mr. Ratcliffe's voice
inquire, 'Where is Mrs. Stanton?' I went out, and received a grasp of
the hand that I felt for long after. 'God bless you for what you have
done for me to-night!' he said, in an agitated tone; and without
another word he departed.

I went in to Miss Rayner. She was sitting where I had left her, but no
explanation was needed to see from the expression of her face what had
taken place.

I just went up to her, and put my arms round her neck.

'I am so glad and thankful,' I whispered, 'and I do hope that you will
be happy.'

Miss Rayner did not speak for a minute, and then she said, in a broken
voice,--

'You have brought two blessings into my life, child. This present one
is big enough, but the other outweighs it by far, and my heart is too
full to speak of it. As for Mr. Ratcliffe, I only hope I shall be a
help to him now, and not a hindrance.'

'It is all right, Philip,' I said, as I met my husband an hour later in
the hall; 'they have come together at last!'

He put his arm round me, and said gently,--

'I hope Ratcliffe will be as much helpe