m to try and dissuade her from such a
hurried departure, or pester her with questions about it. He simply set
her down to write her note at his own desk, then took her out to lunch,
and finally put her in her train, all in his own easy, pleasant,
fatherly way, and Gladys felt profoundly grateful to him.

Her arrival being unexpected, there was no one to meet her at Mauchline
Station, but the two-and-a-half-mile walk did not in the least
disconcert her. It seemed as if the clear, cool south wind--the wind the
huntsman loves--blew all the city cobwebs from her brain, and again
raised her somewhat jaded spirits. She could even think hopefully of
Liz, and her mind was full of schemes for her redemption, when she
espied, at a short distance from her own gates, the solitary figure of
Teen, with her hand shading her eyes, looking anxiously down the road.
She had found life at Bourhill insufferably dull without its mistress.

'Have ye walkit a' that distance?' she cried breathlessly, having run
all her might to meet her. 'Ye'll be deid tired. What way did ye no'
send word?'

'Because I came off all in a hurry this morning,' answered Gladys, with
a smile; for the warm welcome glowing in the large eyes of the little
seamstress did her good. 'And how have you been--you and Miss Peck, and
all the people?'

'Fine; but, my, it's grand to see ye back,' said Teen, with a boundless
satisfaction. 'It's no' like the same place when ye are away. An' hoo's
Glesca lookin'--as dreich as ever?'

'Quite. And oh, Teen, I have found Liz at last. I saw her last night in
Berkeley Street.'

'Saw Liz in Berkeley Street? Surely, never!' repeated Teen, aghast.

'It is quite true. I think she cannot have been away from Glasgow at
all. We must try and find her, you and I, and get her down here.'

'I'll get her, if she's in Glesca!' cried Teen excitedly. 'Did ye speak
to her? What did she look like?'

'Very ill, I thought, and strange,' answered Gladys slowly. 'She only
peeped into our carriage window as we drove away from the concert hall.'

'It's queer,' said Teen musingly,--'very queer. I feel as if I wad like
to gang back to Glesca this very day, and see her.'

'You might go to-morrow, if you like,' said Gladys. 'I daresay you will
find her much quicker than I should; she would not be so shy of you.'

Teen turned her head and gave Gladys a strange, intent look, which
seemed to ask a question. The girl was indeed asking herself whether it