d him as an old hand, made his way towards the Quinta Carr.
How well he knew the streets and houses, even to the withered faces of
the women who sat by the doors, and yet he seemed to have grown old
since he had seen them. Ten minutes of sharp walking brought him to
the gates of the Quinta, and he paused before them, and thought how, a
few months ago, he had quitted them, miserable at the grief of
another, now to re-enter them utterly crushed by his own.

He walked on through the beautiful gardens to the house. The hall-door
stood open. He did not wait to ring, but, driven by some impulse,
entered. After the glare of the sun, which at that time of the year
was powerful even in its decline, the carefully shaded hall seemed
quite dark. But by degrees his eyes adapted themselves to the altered
light, and began to distinguish the familiar outline of the furniture.
Next they travelled to the door of the drawing-room, where another
sight awaited them. For there, herself a perfect picture, standing in
the doorway for a frame, her hands outstretched in welcome, and a
loving smile upon her lips, was Mildred.

"I was waiting for you," she said, gently. "I thought that you would
come."

"Mildred, my idol has been cast down, and, as you told me to do, I
have come back to you."

"Dear," she answered, "you are very welcome."

And then came Miss Terry, pleased with all her honest heart to see
him, and utterly ignorant of the fierce currents that swept under the
smooth surface of their little social sea. Miss Terry was not by
nature a keen observer.

"Dear me, Mr. Heigham, who would have thought of seeing you again so
soon? You _are_ brave to cross the bay so often" (her thoughts ran a
great deal on the Bay of Biscay); "but I don't think you look quite
well, you have such black lines under your eyes, and, I declare,
there's a grey hair!"

"Oh, I assure you your favourite bay was enough to turn anybody's hair
grey, Miss Terry."

And so, talking cheerfully, they went in to the pleasant little
dinner, Mildred leaning over so slightly on his arm, and gazing into
his sad face with full and happy eyes. After all that he had gone
through, it seemed to Arthur as though he had dropped into a haven of
rest.

"See here," said Mildred, when they rose from table, "a wonder has
come to pass since you deserted us. Look, sceptic that you are!" and
she led him to the window, and, lifting a glass shade which protected
a flower-pot, showed h