et him. "Yes,"
he said, "Miss Falconer is in." She was in the morning-room, he
thought. Stafford followed him; the man opened the door, and Stafford
entered.

Maude was seated at a table writing. She did not turn her head, and he
stood looking at her and seeing the record the weary months had left
upon her face; and, even in his own misery, he felt some pity for her.

"Maude!" he said in a low voice.

She did not move for a moment, but looked straight before her
wistfully, as if she could not trust her ears; then she turned and came
towards him, with something like fear on her face. The fear broke up,
as it were, and, stretching out her arms, she spoke his name--the
accents of love fighting with those of doubt and a joy that dreaded its
own greatness.

"Stafford! It is you!"

She pressed her hands to her heart for a moment, then she fell into his
arm, half fainting.

CHAPTER XLII.

"Yes, my father bought the place," said Maude. "I asked him to do so,
and he consented at once. I could not have let it pass to strangers.
You see, I had been so happy here; it was here that you asked me to be
your wife. And father has offered to settle it upon us," she blushed
slightly, and her eyes became downcast. "He is no longer--opposed to
our marriage; he knows that I would marry you if all the world cried
'No!'"

They had been sitting talking for nearly an hour. She had recovered
from the shock of his sudden presence, and was seated beside him--so
close that she could touch him with her hand--calm now, but with a glow
in her usually pale cheek, a light in her eyes which had been absent
for many a weary month past. He had given her, mostly in answer to her
eager questions, a very abbreviated account of his life in Australia;
telling her less even than he had told Ida; and it is needless to
remark, saying nothing of the cause of his hasty return.

"Ah, well," she said, drawing a long breath, "it is all over now,
Stafford. Ah, it is good to have you back safe and sound. You are well,
are you not? You look pale and thin and--and tired. But I suppose it's
the journey. Yes, it is all over; you need not wander any longer; you
have come back to me, have you not, Stafford? If you knew how I have
missed you, how I have longed for you! And now you will settle down and
take your place in the world and be happy! Do you think I shall not
make you happy, Stafford? Ah, do not be afraid;" her eyes sought his
and her hand stole tow