. She uttered a cry of pleasure.

"Look, look! there he is; I am certain it is he."

Anne started violently.

"Mr. Dugdale, Mr. Dugdale!" Agatha called out.

He came up to the carriage with the most lengthened "E--h!" that she had
ever heard him utter. "What brought you two here? This bleak day too.
Very wrong of Anne!"

"But she would come. She said she wanted a breath of sea-air, and I
think, besides, she has business."

"No," interrupted Anne, "no business, except bringing Agatha to see
Weymouth. Now shall we rest, and have some tea at the inn. You'll come
with us, Mr. Dugdale?"

"Yes, I want to speak to you, Anne. I've got news about--that little
affair you know of. That was why I came to Weymouth to-day. Eh,
now--just look there!"

With a countenance brimful of pleasure he came to Miss Valery's side,
and pointed to a steamer that lay in the offing.

"It's the _Anna Mary_. She made the passage from New York in no time.
I've been aboard her already. I fancied I might find him there. Now,
what do you think, Anne?"

"Is he come?" said Anne, in a steady voice. She had quite recovered
herself now.

"No--not this time. But he will sail, for certain, by the next New York
packet to Havre."

"Thank God!" It was a very low answer--just a sigh, and nothing more.

"And we have satisfactorily ended all that business which you first put
into my head," continued Duke, rubbing his hands with great glee. "It
was a risk certainly, but then it was for him. My children will never be
a bit the poorer."

"No," murmured Anne Valery to herself.

"And think what an election we shall have! With him to make speeches for
Trenchard, and argue in this wonderful way about Free-trade, and tell
the farmers all about Canadian wheat! Glorious!"

"What are you both talking about?" cried Agatha, who had been
considerably puzzled. "Do let me hear, if it is not a secret."

"No secret," said Anne, turning round, speaking clearly and composedly,
and not at all like a sick person. "Mr. Brian Harper is coming home."

Agatha clapped her hands for joy.

When they dismounted from the carriage, and had ordered tea at the
inn, Anne still seemed quite strong. She said it was the sea-breeze that
brought life to her, and stood at the open window gazing over the bay.
Agatha thought she had never seen Miss Valery's face so near looking
beautiful as now; it was the faint reflex of girlhood's brightness, like
the zodiacal light which the sun cas