utumn leaves. When the two brothers came out of the college
gate they saw her, not twenty yards away, at the head of her little
troop. Down the broad road the cool wind was rushing, and they saw her
walking against it, outwardly sedate, with roses on her cheeks, her eyes
lit with the sunshine. The three stopped, and greeted each other after
the manner of civilised people.

Trenholme knew that the change that any member of the Rexford family
would put into their demeanour could not be rudely perceptible. He set
no store by her greeting, but he put his hand upon his brother's
shoulder and he said:

"This fellow has news that will surprise you, and a message to give.
Perhaps, if it is not asking too much, we may walk as far as may be
necessary to tell it, or," and he looked at her questioningly, "would
you like him to go and help you to bring down the high boughs?--they
have the brightest leaves."

"Will you come and help us gather red leaves?" said Sophia to Alec.

She did not see the gratitude in the elder brother's eyes, because it
did not interest her to look for it.

"And you?" she said to him.

"Ah, I" (he held up the cane with which he still eased the weight on one
foot), "I cannot walk so far, but perhaps I will come and meet you on
your return," and he pleased himself with the idea that she cared that
he should come.

He went into his house again. His heart, which had lately been learning
the habit of peace, just now learned a new lesson of what joy might be.
His future before him looked troublous, but the worst of his fears was
allayed. He had loved Sophia long; to-day his love seemed multiplied a
thousandfold. Hope crept to his heart like a darling child that had been
in disgrace and now was forgiven.

The others went on down the road.

Alec told his news about Eliza as drily as facts could be told. If he
touched his story at all with feeling, it was something akin to a sneer.

"She'll get him on to the track of prosperity now she's taken hold, Miss
Rexford," said he. "Mr. and Mrs. Bates will be having a piano before
long, and they will drive in a 'buggy.' That's the romance of a
settler's life in Canada."

When they had left that subject Sophia said, "Now he is gone, are you
going away?"

"Yes; in a day or two. I've fixed nothing yet, because Robert seems to
have some unaccountable objection to getting rid of me just at present;
but I shall go."

"It is very fine weather," she said.

"There i