enly grey as the melancholy sky
without. She saw her life at Little Primpton, continuing as in the past
years, monotonous and dull--a dreary round of little duties, of little
vexations, of little pleasures.

"Oh, God help me!" she cried.

And lifting herself painfully to her knees, she prayed for strength to
bear the woeful burden, for courage to endure it steadfastly, for
resignation to believe that it was God's will.

X

James felt no relief. He had looked forward to a sensation of freedom
such as a man might feel when he had escaped from some tyrannous
servitude, and was at liberty again to breathe the buoyant air of
heaven. He imagined that his depression would vanish like an evil spirit
exorcised so soon as ever he got from Mary his release; but instead it
sat more heavily upon him. Unconvinced even yet that he had acted
rightly, he went over the conversation word for word. It seemed
singularly ineffectual. Wishing to show Mary that he did not break with
her from caprice or frivolous reason, but with sorrowful reluctance, and
full knowledge of her suffering, he had succeeded only in being futile
and commonplace.

He walked slowly towards Primpton House. He had before him the
announcement to his mother and father; and he tried to order his
thoughts.

Mrs. Parsons, her household work finished, was knitting the inevitable
socks; while the Colonel sat at the table, putting new stamps into his
album. He chattered delightedly over his treasures, getting up now and
then gravely to ask his wife some question or to point out a surcharge;
she, good woman, showed interest by appropriate rejoinders.

"There's no one in Tunbridge Wells who has such a fine collection as I
have."

"General Newsmith showed me his the other day, but it's not nearly so
good as yours, Richmond."

"I'm glad of that. I suppose his Mauritius are fine?" replied the
Colonel, with some envy, for the general had lived several years on the
island.

"They're fair," said Mrs. Parsons, reassuringly; "but not so good as one
would expect."

"It takes a clever man to get together a good collection of stamps,
although I shouldn't say it."

They looked up when James entered.

"I've just been putting in those Free States you brought me, Jamie. They
look very well."

The Colonel leant back to view them, with the satisfied look with which
he might have examined an old master.

"It was very thoughtful of Jamie to bring them," said Mrs. Pars