ghing, and taking as usual an invalid's pleasure in all the little
novelties only remarked after long seclusion. That steep, winding,
pebbly road, with the ferns and creeping plants on its rocky sides, was
a wonderful panorama to her, and she entreated for a stop at the summit
to look down on the sea and the town; but here Grace came out to them
full of thanks and hopes, little knowing that to them the event was a
very great one. When at the glass doors of the garden entrance, Ermine
trusted herself to the Colonel's arm, and between him and her crutch
crossed the short space to the morning room, where Rachel rose from her
sofa, but wisely did not come forward till her guest was safely placed
in a large easy chair.

Rachel then held out her hand to the Colonel, and quietly said, "Thank
you," in a subdued manner that really touched him, as he retreated
quickly and left them together. Then Rachel sat down on a footstool
close to Ermine, and looked up to her. "Oh, it is so good of you to come
to me! I would not have dared to think of it, but I just said I
wished to get out for nothing but to go to you; and then he--Captain
Keith-would go and fetch you."

"As the nearest approach to fetching the moon, I suppose," said Ermine,
brightly. "It was very kind to me, for I was longing to see you, and I
am glad to find you looking better than I expected."

For in truth Rachel's complexion had been little altered by her illness;
and the subdued dejected expression was the chief change visible, except
in the feebleness and tremulousness of all her movements. "Yes, I am
better," she said. "I ought to be, for he is so good to me."

"Dear Rachel, I was so very glad to hear of this," said Ermine, bending
down to kiss her.

"Were you? I thought no one could be that cared for him," said Rachel.

"I cared more for him the week that you were ill than ever I had done
before."

"Grace tells me of that," said Rachel, "and when he is here I believe
it. But, Miss Williams, please look full at me, and tell me whether
everybody would not think--I don't say that I could do it--but if every
one would not think it a great escape for him if I gave him up."

"No one that could really judge."

"Because, listen," said Rachel, quickly, "the regiment is going to
Scotland, and he and the mother have taken it into their heads that I
shall get well faster somewhere away from home. And--and they want to
have the wedding as soon as I am better; and they