, though she
could not see him; and, after the shadow had disappeared, continued to
stand watching with tender folly if perhaps some indication of Nettie's
presence might again reveal itself. He walked upon air as he went back,
at last, cold but joyful, through the blank solitude of Grange Lane.
Nothing could have come amiss to the doctor in that dawn of happiness.
He could have found it in his heart to mount his drag again and drive
ten miles in celestial patience at the call of any capricious invalid.
He was half-disappointed to find no summons awaiting him when he went
home--no outlet for the universal charity and loving-kindness that
possessed him. Instead, he set his easy-chair tenderly by the side of
the blazing fire, and, drawing another chair opposite, gazed with secret
smiles at the visionary Nettie, who once had taken up her position
there. Was it by prophetic instinct that the little colonial girl, whose
first appearance so discomposed the doctor, had assumed that place?
Dr Rider contemplated the empty chair with smiles that would have
compromised his character for sanity with any uninstructed observer.
When the mournful Mary disturbed his reverie by her noiseless and
penitent entrance with the little supper which she meant at once for
a peace-offering and compensation for the dinner lost, she carried
down-stairs with her a vivid impression that somebody had left her
master a fortune. Under such beatific circumstances closed the evening
that had opened amid such clouds. Henceforth, so far as the doctor could
read the future, no difficulties but those common to all wooers beset
the course of his true love.

CHAPTER XVII.

When the red gleams of the early sunshine shone into that window from
which Nettie had looked out last night, the wintry light came in with
agitating revelations not simply upon another morning, but upon a new
world. As usual, Nettie's thoughts were expressed in things tangible.
She had risen from her sleepless bed while it was still almost dark, and
to look at her now, a stranger might have supposed her to be proceeding
with her last night's work with the constancy of a monomaniac. Little
Freddy sat up in his crib rubbing his eyes and marvelling what Nettie
could be about, as indeed anybody might have marvelled. With all those
boxes and drawers about, and heaps of personal belongings, what was she
going to do? She could not have answered the question without pain; but
had you waite