kindly. "Why need you go to Daintree; you will be dreadfully
dull there with only your aunt. I do not see why you should not come
to Belgrave house first, while Mrs. Montague is there. She is a very
pleasant woman, Fay; and you could do just as you like, and you would
see Evelyn, and I am sure you two would soon be great friends. Do
come, Fay; and you can go to Daintree afterward."

Fay shook her head with a faint, dissenting smile; but she was touched
by his kind thought for her.

"No, Erle," she said, decidedly, "it would not do at all. Hugh would
not like it. He wishes me to go to Aunt Griselda."

"What does it matter to him where you go, so long as he is enjoying
himself," burst from Erle's impatient lips; her meekness really
provoked him. But he regretted the rash speech as soon as it was
uttered, especially when a soft little hand touched his.

"Hush! Erle," she said, gently, "you should not speak like that; not
to me at least. Do you not know that I have no greater pleasure in the
world than to obey my husband's wishes. No," she continued, and her
eyes grew misty, "I have no other happiness but that--no other
happiness but that."

"But Fay," interrupted Erle, eagerly, "what possible objection could
Hugh have to your staying at our house while Mrs. Montague is there?
We would wait on you, and watch over you, as though you were a queen."

"Yes, yes! I know that--you are always so kind to me, Erle; but it
would never do for me to come to Belgrave House. Hugh does not like
Mr. Huntingdon."

"Very few people do," muttered Erle; "but he has always been a good
friend to my mother and to me."

"Yes, I know; and he is your uncle, so of course you make allowances
for him. But Hugh has told me the story of poor Nea Huntingdon; and,
somehow, I feel as though I could never visit at Belgrave House until
you are master there."

Erle smiled. "When that day comes, Mrs. Trafford shall reap a golden
harvest after all her hard work. You do not know how I long to help
her, and make life easier for them all. Think of such women living in
a place like the Elysian Fields--over that shop too; and yet, if I
were to take up their cause now, I should only forfeit my own chances,
and do no good. So you mean to be obdurate, my Fairy Queen, and not
come to us."

"No, dear," she said, quietly, "I could not come." But she never told
him that one of her reasons was that she might possibly meet the
Ferrers there, if they were coming b