the day three years ago when they had plighted their troth in this very
church.

Greta made a sweet-looking bride, there was a chastened gravity on her
fair face, but no tremor as she repeated the solemn responses, but
Alwyn was painfully nervous, and looked so pale, that Olivia feared
more than once he was ill.

He looked more like himself when the service was over, but that he
realised his responsibilities intensely was evident from the few words
he said to Olivia while Greta was changing her dress.

"I have not deserved all this, have I, Mrs. Luttrell?" he said, in his
impulsive way. "I feel as though coals of fire were heaped upon me.
Fancy a sweet girl like Greta consenting to link her lot with mine.
How am I to live up to it? but she believes in me, and God bless her.
I will try not to disappoint her," and there were tears in the young
man's eyes as he said this.

"Good-bye, Olive darling," whispered Greta, as she put her arms
affectionately round her friend. "I am glad that we are not to be long
away, the dear new home will be quite ready for us," and then she took
her husband's arm and the little group of friends watched them as they
drove away.

When Olive went to Mr. Gaythorne an hour later she found him looking
pleased and excited. "Alwyn is a happy man," he said, "he has got a
good wife. Greta has tact as well as heart. She will let him have his
own way whenever it is possible, and he will not find out that he is
guided. That is what Alwyn's nature needs. I have found that out by
bitter experience." And the old man sighed heavily. In spite of his
contentment the memory of the past was still painful, and both he and
Alwyn would carry their scars to their dying day.

"I am sure you will love Greta dearly," Olivia observed. "She is a
little shy and quiet until she gets used to people, but she is so
wonderfully gentle."

"Yes, and she was my little Olive's friend. I shall never forget that,
but as I told you just now, I have two daughters," and then he laid his
hand on Olivia's with one of his rare gestures of affection. "My dear,
Alwyn and I were talking last night. I told him that he must be master
here, and that he must put his wife in her proper place at once. I
shall want little during the few months or years that remain to me.
Just my quiet rooms and my children's affection and the society of the
one or two friends that remain to me. But Alwyn needs more. He loves
society, and to