hance idea for a moment troubled her--it suggested the
black line of shadow which had marred the sunshine in the olden days.

"It is ten years since," she said to herself, as the smile died from her
lips. "Ten years without a sign or a sound. Surely it will not come
again now; surely I may have some peace, some rest. Twenty years in
darkness, twenty years in lonely sorrow--surely that should pay the
penalty of one mistake."

As she thought she sat upright in her chair, with her hands clasped
suddenly together, her cheeks growing pale and her head leaning forward
as she listened intently.

From the distance, in the direction of the clump of trees which marked
the coaching disaster of years before, there came through the still,
hot air the sound of a dingo's howl. The woman shuddered as she heard
it--shuddered and lay back in her chair with tightly closed lips, and
breath that was short and hard. Again the howl sounded across the
paddock, and again she shuddered. Then, sitting upright, she twisted a
light shawl she had with her over her head, and rising to her feet,
slowly felt her way along the verandah, down the steps, and on until her
hand touched the rail which ran from the verandah to the trees across
the paddock.

She was following it, and was nearly halfway across, when Ailleen,
coming on to the verandah, saw her, and at once ran after her. She
turned as she heard the girl's voice calling, and waited where she
stood.

"Why, where are you going? And alone, too," Ailleen exclaimed, as she
came up; "and with only that rag on your head, and the sun scorching.
Why----"

The elder woman turned a pale, careworn face towards her, and held up
her hand.

"I ought to have told you--I forgot--but this--I always come alone. A
long time ago something happened, and--I come to think and--and
pray--here. You go back to the house. This rail is--to guide me, as I
always go--alone."

There was something in the words, something in the voice, something in
the face, which appealed to the girl.

"Just as you wish," she answered quietly. "Only let me get you a hat."

"I always come--like this," the other said. "I will wait till you go
back."

She stood still with her face towards the house as Ailleen returned, and
then, as she heard the girl's footsteps on the verandah, she turned and
walked to the clump of trees, disappearing under their shade through the
little gate in the fence. Closing the gate after her, she stepped
fo