"Yes, Aunt Ermine said you were coming, and that I might meet you, but
that I must let you come in alone, for she had not seen you so long,
that she wanted you all to herself."

"And how is she; how has she been?"

"She is well now," said Rose, in the grave, grown-up way she always
assumed when speaking of her aunt's health; "but she has been having a
good deal of her nervous headache this summer, and Lady Temple wanted
her to see Mr. Frampton, but Aunt Ailie said it was only excitement and
wear of spirits. Oh, I am glad you have come back! We have so wearied
after you."

Nevertheless Rose duteously loosed the hand to which she had been
clinging till they came to the door; and as Colin Keith opened it, again
he was met by the welcoming glances of the bright eyes. This time he did
not pause till he was close to her, and kneeling on one knee beside her,
he put his arm round her, and held her hands in his.

The first words that passed were, "You had the letters?"

"Colin, Colin, my one prayer has been, 'Make Thy way plain before my
face.'"

"And now it is?"

"The suspicion is gone; the displeasure is gone; the doubts are gone;
and now there is nothing--nothing but the lameness and the poverty; and
if you like the old cinder, Colin, that is your concern;" and she hid
her face, with a sort of sobbing laugh.

"And even the haste; you consent to that?"

"I don't feel it like haste," she said, looking up with a smile, and
then crimsoning.

"And Ailie gives leave, and thinks the hurry will not harm you?"

"Ailie! O Colin, did you think I could tell any one of your letter,
before you had had your answer?"

"Then Edward is not so moonstruck as I thought him! And when shall it
be, dearest? Give me as much time as you can. I must go back this day
fortnight."

"I suppose your expectations are not high in the matter of finery," said
Ermine, with a certain archness of voice.

"Those eyes are all the finery I ever see."

"Then if you will not be scandalized at my natural Sunday dress, I don't
see why this day week should not do as well as any other time."

"Ermine, you are the only woman I ever met totally free from nonsense."

"Take care, it is very unfeminine and disagreeable to be devoid of
nonsense."

"Very, and therefore you are talking it now! Ermine, how shall I thank
you? Not only for the sake of the ease of mind to my poor brother; but
in the scenes we are going through, a drop of happiness is wanted a