he now?"
and then Agatha said:

"Be glad with me! I am sent to fetch Major Harper."

Anne pressed her hand. "Go and tell him. He is with Elizabeth."

And there Agatha found him overcome with grief--the gay, handsome Major
Harper! steadfast neither in good nor evil. He sat, his head bent, his
hair falling disordered, its greyness showing, oh! so plain. Plainer
still were the wrinkles which a life of smiles had carved only the
deeper round the mouth--token of how near upon him was creeping a
desolate unhonoured age. By his side, talking softly, with his hand
in hers, lay the crippled sister, perhaps the only living creature who
really loved him.

"Major Harper," Agatha spoke softly, laying her hand upon his shoulder.
The poor broken-down man, dropping into old age! there was no fear of
his thinking she was in love with him now.

"Well, what do you want?"

"I am sent to fetch you to your father."

He looked incredulous;--Agatha repeated her message.

"My husband sent me. Your father wishes very much to see you. Come."

"Elizabeth!" He turned to her as if she could make him understand this
incomprehensible news.

Elizabeth clasped his hand and loosed it. She said nothing, but Agatha
saw she was weeping for joy. Her brother rose and went through the long
gallery they passed, his sister-in-law carrying the light, and leading
him. He had quite forgotten his courteous manners now. Agatha thought of
the days in London--when he had escorted her to operas, and murmured
over her in drawing-rooms, making her so happy and honoured in his
notice. Poor Major Harper! How vain were all the shows of his brilliant
life, the men who had courted him, the women who had flattered and
admired him! Agatha forgave him all his follies--ay even all the hearts
he had broken. There was not one of those poor hearts, not one, on which
he could rest his tired head now!

At the door of their father's room Nathanael met him, a new and more
righteous Jacob dealing with a more desolate Esau. And like Esau's was
the cry that broke from Frederick Harper as he went in and flung himself
on his knees by the bed.

"_Bless me--even me also--O' my father._"

There was no answer. The words of forgiveness were denied his hearing.
The old Squire could but look at his son, and move his lips in an
articulate murmur.

Agatha ran to Major Harper's side. It was pitiful to see the shock he
had received, and the frenzied way in which he called upon his fath