uently. The solitary walk of the last two
hours had wrought its effect on me--it had set the idea in my mind of
hastening my departure from Limmeridge House. Why should I prolong the
hard trial of saying farewell by one unnecessary minute? What further
service was required of me by any one? There was no useful purpose to
be served by my stay in Cumberland--there was no restriction of time in
the permission to leave which my employer had granted to me. Why not
end it there and then?

I determined to end it. There were some hours of daylight still
left--there was no reason why my journey back to London should not
begin on that afternoon. I made the first civil excuse that occurred
to me for leaving Mr. Gilmore, and returned at once to the house.

On my way up to my own room I met Miss Halcombe on the stairs. She saw,
by the hurry of my movements and the change in my manner, that I had
some new purpose in view, and asked what had happened.

I told her the reasons which induced me to think of hastening my
departure, exactly as I have told them here.

"No, no," she said, earnestly and kindly, "leave us like a friend--break
bread with us once more. Stay here and dine, stay here and help
us to spend our last evening with you as happily, as like our first
evenings, as we can. It is my invitation--Mrs. Vesey's invitation----"
she hesitated a little, and then added, "Laura's invitation as well."

I promised to remain. God knows I had no wish to leave even the shadow
of a sorrowful impression with any one of them.

My own room was the best place for me till the dinner bell rang. I
waited there till it was time to go downstairs.

I had not spoken to Miss Fairlie--I had not even seen her--all that
day. The first meeting with her, when I entered the drawing-room, was
a hard trial to her self-control and to mine. She, too, had done her
best to make our last evening renew the golden bygone time--the time
that could never come again. She had put on the dress which I used to
admire more than any other that she possessed--a dark blue silk,
trimmed quaintly and prettily with old-fashioned lace; she came forward
to meet me with her former readiness--she gave me her hand with the
frank, innocent good-will of happier days. The cold fingers that
trembled round mine--the pale cheeks with a bright red spot burning in
the midst of them--the faint smile that struggled to live on her lips
and died away from them while I looked at