rly at a loss for a means of passing her time, Mrs. Cross,
in these days of domestic suppression, renewed the correspondence, and
was surprised by an invitation to pass a few days at her brother's
house. This she made known to Bertha about a week after the decisive
struggle.

"Of course, you are invited, too, but--I'm afraid you are too busy?"

Amused by her mother's obvious wish to go to Worcester unaccompanied,
Bertha answered that she really didn't see how she was to spare the
time just now.

"But I don't like to leave you alone here--"

Her daughter laughed at this scruple. She was just as glad of the
prospect of a week's solitude as her mother in the thought of temporary
escape from the proximity of pampered Sarah. The matter was soon
arranged, and Mrs. Cross left home.

This was a Friday. The next day, sunshine and freedom putting her in
holiday mood, Bertha escaped into the country, and had a long ramble
like that, a year ago, on which she had encountered Norbert Franks.
Sunday morning she spent quietly at home. For the afternoon she had
invited a girl friend. About five o'clock, as they were having tea,
Bertha heard a knock at the front door. She heard the servant go to
open, and, a moment after, Sarah announced, "Mr. Warburton."

It was the first time that Warburton had found a stranger in the room,
and Bertha had no difficulty in reading the unwonted look with which he
advanced to shake hands.

"No bad news, I hope?" she asked gravely, after presenting him to the
other visitor.

"Bad news?--"

"I thought you looked rather troubled--"

Her carefully composed features resisted Will's scrutiny.

"Do I? I didn't know it--but, yes," he added, abruptly, "you are right.
Something has vexed me--a trifle."

"Look at these drawings of Miss Medwin's. They will make you forget all
vexatious trifles."

Miss Medwin was, like Bertha, a book illustrator, and had brought work
to show her friend. Warburton glanced at the drawings with a decent
show of interest. Presently he inquired after Mrs. Cross, and learnt
that she was out of town for a week or so; at once his countenance
brightened, and so shamelessly that Bertha had to look aside, lest her
disposition to laugh should be observed. Conversation of a rather
artificial kind went on for half an hour, then Miss Medwin jumped up
and said she must go. Bertha protested, but her friend alleged the
necessity of making another call, and took leave.

Warburton stoo