But at the time I could not help taking Alwyn's part. He was not good
to his father, and often lost his temper and said disrespectful things.
But Mr. Gaythorne had no right to be so tyrannical.

"When my mother died father would not hear of our living at Ivy Dene.
He said he hated the place, and we went to America for a year or two,
and there I heard of Olive's death. Olive had told me in her letters
of Alwyn's disappearance.

"'There has been an awful scene,' she wrote, 'poor dear mother has been
so ill. Father thinks that Alwyn has done something very wrong, but of
course neither mother nor I believe it for a moment, though it cannot
be denied that appearances are terribly against him. Forgive me,
dearest Greta, if I do not enlarge on this painful subject. We do not
know what has become of Alwyn; but we think he has enlisted.'

"This was the last letter I received from Olive. Before many months
had passed she died at Rome, and her mother did not long survive her."

CHAPTER XVI.

BUSY DAYS.

"Rely upon it, the spiritual life is not knowing or learning, but
doing. We only know so far as we can do; we learn to do by doing; and
we learn to know by doing; what we do truly, rightly, in the way of
duty, that and only that we are."--_Rev. Frederick Robertson_.

When Alwyn heard that Greta was downstairs, he brightened perceptibly.
"She is a dear creature," he said; "except in looks she has not changed
a bit. She used to be rather a pretty girl,--interesting-looking, that
was the word for Greta; but she is very graceful still. Will you give
my love to her, Mrs. Luttrell? I shall hope to see her to-morrow or
the next day," and then he turned wearily on his pillow, as though
talking were too great an effort.

The following afternoon Greta came earlier; but, as she was unable to
stay long, Olivia found an opportunity of going round to Mayfield
Villas.

It was just in the gloaming,--Aunt Madge's rest hour, as she called
it,--and there was unmistakable gladness in her voice, when Olivia's
tall figure appeared on the threshold. "Welcome, welcome, little
stranger," she said, merrily; "do you know, Livy, that you have played
truant for four whole days. I was just thinking of sending Deb round
this evening to know if anything were the matter. Oh, I see," as her
bright, penetrating glance read her niece's face. "You have something
wonderful to tell me. Draw up your chair and I will be as quiet as a
mous