very atmosphere of the house gave me a sense of well-being, of
feeling at home and cared for; yes, _of being loved_. Don't laugh, my
dears; for when I've done you may not think this fancy altogether
foolish.

"I stepped out into the verandah, and Farmer Hosking pocketed the
pruning-knife which he had been using on a bush of jasmine.

"'This is better than anything I had dreamed of,' said I.

"'Well, miss, that's not a wise way of beginning a bargain, if you'll
excuse me.'

"He took no advantage, however, of my admission; and we struck the
bargain as we returned down the coombe to his farm, where the hired
chaise waited to convey me back to the market town. I had meant to
engage a maid of my own, but now it occurred to me that I might do very
well with Mrs. Carkeek. This, too, was settled in the course of the
next day or two, and within the week I had moved into my new home.

"I can hardly describe to you the happiness of my first month at
Tresillack; because (as I now believe) if I take the reasons which I had
for being happy, one by one, there remains over something which I cannot
account for. I was moderately young, entirely healthy; I felt myself
independent and adventurous; the season was high summer, the weather
glorious, the garden in all the pomp of June, yet sufficiently unkempt
to keep me busy, give me a sharp appetite for meals, and send me to bed
in that drowsy stupor which comes of the odours of earth. I spent the
most of my time out of doors, winding up the day's work as a rule with a
walk down the cool valley, along the beach and back.

"I soon found that all housework could be safely left to Mrs. Carkeek.
She did not talk much; indeed her only fault (a rare one in
house-keepers) was that she talked too little, and even when I addressed
her seemed at times unable to give me her attention. It was as though
her mind strayed off to some small job she had forgotten, and her eyes
wore a listening look, as though she waited for the neglected task to
speak and remind her. But as a matter of fact she forgot nothing.
Indeed, my dears, I was never so well attended to in my life.

"Well, that is what I'm coming to. That, so to say, is just _it_.
The woman not only had the rooms swept and dusted, and my meals prepared
to the moment. In a hundred odd little ways this orderliness, these
preparations, seemed to read my desires. Did I wish the roses renewed
in a bowl upon the dining-table, sure enough at