hen admitted him.

'Will you let me answer your letter personally?' he said, as Mrs.
Abbott welcomed him in the room where she sat alone.

She had written about Minnie Wager, begging that he would in future
cease to contribute to the girl's support, and be responsible only for
the boy. In her new home there would be no need of a servant; she and
Minnie would do the housework together. Impossible, she wrote, to speak
of his kindness both to her and the children. For Minnie, who might
henceforth be looked upon as self-supporting, he must no longer be
taxed. The child owed him every hope in her life; let him be satisfied
with what he had done so generously.

Of these things they talked for a few minutes. It was easy to see how
great a change had befallen Mary Abbott's outlook upon life. She was
younger by several years, yet not like herself of that earlier time;
much gentler, much sweeter in face and word. Harvey observed her with
keen pleasure, and, becoming aware of his gaze, his smile, she blushed
like a girl.

'Mr. Rolfe--I am sure you feel that I am deserting my post.'

'To be sure you are. I shall always owe you a grudge for it.'

'I thought of it all--of Hughie and the others. I didn't know how I
should ever face you.'

''Twas a shameless thing. And yet I can find it in my heart to forgive
you. You are so ingenuous about it.'

Mary looked up again.

'What shall you do--about Hughie?'

'Oh, there's a great scheme on foot. Alma suggests that we shall go and
live at Greystone. It tempts me.'

'That it must, indeed! I know how you would like it.'

'We shouldn't be so very far apart then--an hour's journey or so. You
would come to us, and we to you.'

'Delightful!'

They had not much more to say, but each was conscious of thought in the
other's mind that supplemented their insufficient phrases. As they
shook hands, Mary seemed trying to speak. The lamplight made a glimmer
in her eyes, and their lids drooped as she said at length----

'I am so glad that you like each other.'

'He's a splendid fellow,' replied Rolfe joyously. 'I think no end of
him.'

'And he of you--for I have told him everything.'

Then Harvey quitted the house, and walked about under the starry sky
until it was time to call for Alma.

CHAPTER 10

Yet once again did Alma hypnotise her imagination with a new ideal of
life. Her talk was constantly of Greystone. She began a correspondence
with Mrs. Morton, who did her best