e?--then she is the more glad to see her visitors"--a pleasant
voice, a silken-rustling step, which in Agatha's fancy seemed always to
enter like daylight into a dusky room--and Miss Valery came to welcome
her guests.

She addressed Mrs. Harper first, and then Harrie, who looked confused
for the moment. But it was not a trifle that could upset the equanimity
of the honest-speaking Harrie Dugdale.

"Bless us, Anne, how softly you walk!' Listeners,' etc.--You know the
saying! But you might listen at every door in Dorsetshire, and never
hear worse of yourself than I said just now."

"Thank you. When I want a good character I shall be sure to come to
Harriet Dugdale.--And now, what is the news with the little wife! whom I
have yet to bid welcome to Thornhurst. Welcome Mrs. Locke Harper."
Anne said the name, as she often did, with a peculiar under-tone of
hesitation and tenderness; then, according to her frequent habit, she
put her hand on her favourite's shoulder, and began to play with the
brown curls. "Have you been quite well and happy since I saw you?"

The question, so simple, so full of kindness, pierced Agatha's soul.
Alas? how much had happened since she sat on the stone seat at Corfe
Castle, and looked over the view with Anne Valery! How little did Anne
or any one know that she was wretched--maddened--hating herself and the
whole world--believing in nothing good, nothing holy--not even in her
who spoke. The words, the smile, appeared the mocking hypocrisy of one
who had persuaded her to marry, and must ere long know of that hasty
marriage the miserable result This thought steeled her heart even
against Anne Valery.

She burst into a sharp laugh. "Well! Happy! Cannot you see? You are the
best person to answer your own question." And she moved away out of the
room.

Anne looked after her, thoughtfully, rather sadly. Perhaps she was used
to have her pets glide from her, dancing out indifferently into the
merry world. She made no attempt to follow Agatha, but led the way
down-stairs into the drawing-room.

"Mr. Trenchard, come and let me introduce you to Mrs. Locke Harper."

As Miss Valery said this, an elderly gentleman, dapper, dandy, and
small, escaped from under the hands of Duke Dugdale--those big earnest
hands that were laid upon him in all the apostleship of sincere
argument--and came, nothing loth, as his eager bow showed, to do the
polite to the young bride who had been lately brought to the county.