d to meet
her, and took her by both hands.

"My dear, we have come over at once to tell you how glad we are!" she
said. "We heard the good news from Mr. Wordley, and neither I nor my
husband could wait another day before we came to congratulate you."

Lady Vayne, too, held Ida's hand and looked at her with affectionate
sympathy.

"And we felt the same, my dear," she said; "so you must not think us
intrusive."

Ida shook hands with them all and rang for the tea. She was very quiet
and subdued, but the little cold look of surprise with which she had at
one time met their advances was now absent, and they could perceive
that she was glad to see them.

"Our joy in the good news is not altogether unselfish and
disinterested, my dear Miss Ida," said Lord Bannerdale. "That Heron
Hall should be shut up and deserted, while there is so charming a
mistress to represent the old family, was little short of a general
misfortune. You cannot tell how anxious and concerned we have been
about you--but we will say no more about that. I trust a brighter star
has risen above the old house, and that it is entering upon brighter
fortunes. At any rate, let that be as it may, we want you to believe
how delighted we are to have you back again, and under such happy
auspices." "And we want to say, too, dear," said Lady Bannerdale, while
Lady Vayne nodded assentingly, "that we hope you have really come back
to us, that you will be one of us and let us see a great deal of you.
Of course, under the circumstances," she glanced at Ida's black dress,
"we are debarred from expressing our pleasure in festivity; but we hope
you will come to us quite quietly, and very often, and that you will
let us treat you as one of our own dear girls."

Ida murmured a suitable response; but though she was by no means
demonstrative they were satisfied; and as they left they expressed that
satisfaction to each other.

"Oh, yes, she was glad to see us," Lady Bannerdale said; "and I like
her all the better for not meeting us half-way and for refraining from
any gushing. Poor girl! I am afraid she has been very ill, and has felt
her trouble very keenly. She is much thinner, and when she came into
the room there was an expression in her face which touched me and made
my eyes dim."

"We must look after her," remarked Lady Vayne. "There is something
weird in the idea of her living there all alone; though, of course, her
maid, Jessie, will take care of her."

Lady B