came aware of it suddenly,
and with secret amazement.

'Why do you look at me like that?' he asked almost angrily. 'Is there
anything the matter with my clothes?'

'No, nothing, you cross boy. I was only thinking that you had grown to
be a man without any warning, and I am not sure that I did not like you
better as a boy.'

'That is more than likely,' he answered, not in the least gently; but
Gladys only smiled. Her faith in him was so boundless and so perfect
that she never misunderstood him. In her deep heart she guessed that the
shadow of the coming parting lay heavy on his soul. It lay on hers
likewise, but was brightened in some subtle fashion by a lovely hope
which she did not understand nor seek to analyse, but which seemed to
link the troubled past and the unknown future by a band of gold.
Wherever she might go, or whatever might become of her, she could never
lose Walter out of her life. It was the love of the child merging into
the mysterious hope of the woman, but she did not understand it yet. Had
he known even in part how she felt, it had saved him many a bitter hour;
but as yet that solace was denied him. That hot, rebellious young heart
must needs go through the very furnace of pain to bring forth its
fulness of sweetness and strength.

As the two came side by side up the middle of the village street, the
lawyer and the minister stood upon the steps at the inn door.

'Is it a case of love's young dream?' asked the latter significantly.

Mr. Fordyce laughed as he shook his head.

'Scarcely. They've been companions--in misfortune, I had almost
said--for a long time, and it is natural that they should feel kindly
towards each other. Miss Bourhill Graham must needs aim a little higher.
I like the young fellow, however. There's an honesty of purpose and a
fearless individuality about him which refreshes one. Odd, isn't it, to
find two such gems in such a place?'

'Rather; but I don't agree with all you say,' replied the minister, 'and
I'll watch with interest the development of Miss Graham's history. If
that determined-looking youth doesn't have a hand in it, I've made a
huge mistake, that's all.'

Mr. Fordyce had made his plans for the day, and arranged with his wife
to bring the carriage to Colquhoun Street at five o'clock. Gladys had
been made acquainted with this arrangement, and acquiesced in it. It was
about four o'clock when they returned to the empty house, which looked
more cheerless than u