those with whom he
came in contact happy, to sympathize with them in their griefs, to help
them in their needs, to sacrifice his own feelings to their pleasure,
for in this way he felt that he was in part atoning for the wrong done
by the poor old man dead long ago and forgotten by nearly all who had
known him.

Such was the Grey Jerrold whom Neil McPherson met at the Menai station
and escorted along the road to Stoneleigh.

"I should have driven out for you, only there is no carriage. I think I
told you that Mr. Archie McPherson is awfully poor," he explained
apologetically as he saw Grey pull his fur cap over his ears, for the
wind was blowing a gale and drifting the snow in their faces.

"I do not think you ever told me in so many words that they were very
poor, but I had an impression that they were not rich," Grey said,
adding, "I prefer to walk, and rather enjoy battling with a
north-wester: it takes me back to New England, the very land of snows
and storms."

They were in the park by this time, nearing the house, when suddenly the
curtains of a window parted, letting out a flood of light into the
darkness and Grey saw for an instant pressed against the pane a face
which made his heart throb quickly with a kind of glad surprise as if it
were a face he had seen before, while with it came a thought of his Aunt
Hannah, and the lonely old house in the pasture land in far-off
Allington. A moment later, and the face was looking up to his with a
half fearful curious expression, which was, however, changed to one of
great gladness as Bessie met his winning smile and the kind eyes bent so
searchingly upon her. She had no fear or dread of him now, and she gave
him her hand most cordially and bade him welcome to Stoneleigh with a
warmth which made him feel at home, and put him at his ease.

"Perhaps you would like to go to your room at once, and Neil will show
you the way," she said to him; then, in an aside to Neil, "my room, you
know, at the head of the stairs."

Neil looked at her in surprise, while a cloud gathered upon his brow.
That Bessie should give her room to Grey seemed to him absurd, though he
never stopped to ask himself where she could put him if not there Neil
knew perfectly well the capabilities of the old stone house, and that
spare rooms were not as plenty as blackberries, but so long as he was
not incommoded it was no business of his to inquire into matters; nor
could he understand that an extra fir