be a successful artist he must mix with his
fellow-workers, and rub against other minds. He must go into the world
and see and be seen."

"I think you are right," returned Olivia, slowly; she was secretly very
much surprised by this speech. She had no idea how much he had brooded
over this question.

"Yes," he returned, a little sadly, "I have learnt my lesson at last.
Those young lives must not be overshadowed by a sick man's whims. My
son must never be able to say again that his father's house was like a
jail, and that he felt cramped in body and mind. Sooner than that,"
with a trace of the old excitement in his manner, "I would rather my
weary bones were laid in the earth."

"Dear Mr. Gaythorne," in a soothing voice, "Alwyn loves you far too
well ever to say or think such a thing."

"I hope so--I trust so, but I would rather not put his patience to the
proof. My boy must be happy, or I can know no peace. 'If you will
bring your wife here and stay with your old father I will never
interfere with either of you,' that is what I said to him. 'You may
turn the house out of window if you like, so that you leave me my two
quiet rooms;' but he only laughed in my face. 'We will see about
that,' was all he answered, but I shall prove to him that I meant what
I said."

"Greta will not care for gaiety this winter. You must remember that
she has been used to a very quiet life."

"That is for her and Alwyn to decide," returned Mr. Gaythorne. "Ah,
Mrs. Luttrell, my dear, what it will be to me to hear a woman's step
about the house again. It will be like music in my ears;" and then he
leant back in his chair as though he were exhausted and asked Olivia to
read to him.

Later in the evening, as she walked back with Marcus, she told him of
this conversation, and then she added,--

"He will be very good to Greta, I am sure of that; his voice softened
so when he spoke of her. She is a link with the past, you see. But,
Marcus, as he talked he looked so old and broken that I cannot help
fearing that they will not have him with them for long."

"Probably not. I have hinted this more than once to Alwyn, and though
he always turns it off, I think he understands me. It was his own
proposition that they should only be a fortnight away. Now I have two
or three patients to see, so you must not wait up for me;" and tired as
he was Marcus walked off briskly, whilst Olivia lingered on the
doorstep for a moment to look at