would scarcely notice her--his
heart would be so full of other thoughts. What right had she, his erring
wife, to obtrude herself upon his feelings at such a time? She could
only look at him, and watch him, and silently help him in everything.
Alas, she might not even dare to comfort him!

Towards evening the suspense of expectation grew less, from the mere
fact of its having lasted so many hours. Agatha went down in the course
of dinner. The dining-table looked as usual, only fuller, from the
presence of the Dugdales and Miss Valery. Mary had of necessity taken
her father's place, but not his chair--it was put aside against the
wall, and nobody looked that way.

Agatha seated herself next to Miss Valery, quietly--they were all so
very quiet. Anne whispered, "How is he?" and the rest listened for the
answer--the usual answer, which all foreboded. Then Harriet made an
attempt to speak of other things--of how the rain pattered against the
window-panes, and what an ill night it was for Nathanael's journey. She
even began to doubt whether he would come.

"He is sure to come," said Miss Valery.

And while she was yet speaking there swept round the house a wild burst
of storm, in the midst of which were faintly discerned the sound of a
horse's feet. They all cried out--"He is here!"

A minute more and he was in the room--drenched through--flushed with
riding against wind and rain. But it was himself, his own self, and his
wife saw him.

When those who are much thought of return from absence, for the first
minute they almost always seem unlike the image in our hearts.--It
was not thus that Agatha had remembered her husband. Not thus--abrupt,
agitated: anything but the calm and grave Nathanael.

He looked eagerly round the room--all rose: but Miss Valery was the
first to take his hand.

"Thanks, Anne, I knew you would be with them. Is he"--

"Just the same--no change."

The young man breathed hard. "Are you all here?" He took his three
sisters and kissed them one after the other, silently, brotherly--Anne
likewise. There was one left out--his wife, who had hidden behind the
rest. But soon she heard her name.

"Is Agatha with you?"

She approached. Her husband took her hand--paused a moment--and then
touched her cheek with his lips, as he had done to his sisters. He did
not look at her or speak--it seemed as if he were not able.

They drew round Nathanael, nearly all weeping. There was, as is natural
at such time