to see how loving was the meeting. Neither said
a word on the subject of their trouble. The understanding between them
was too complete. Mrs. Wright put her arms round Estelle, and kissing
her affectionately, said, 'Forgive me, dearie; I am tired and a little
upset. It is so long since I have been out, and walked up that steep
path, that it seems to have knocked me over. We will just have a cup of
tea, and that will make us all bright and cheerful again.'

Estelle began to speak, but her old friend would not allow her to finish
her sentence. The subject was over, and she bustled about preparing the
meal, and chatting about the sea and the French sea-folk. Jack had left
the room, and did not appear again till Estelle was in bed. Then she
heard him say, as he wished his mother good-night, 'The past is past,
and can't be undone. The future is in our hands, and it won't be my
fault if I don't do my best to redeem it. Perhaps some day atonement may
be possible.'

Being half asleep Estelle did not catch the reply. Tired out with the
afternoon's expedition and the excitement following it, she slept more
soundly than she had done since her illness. Morning found her more
lively and vigorous than usual, and with a better colour in her face.
The cloud her unfortunate question had occasioned appeared to have
cleared off. Perhaps Jack was more quiet, as if some of his joyousness
had gone; but no one but sensitive Estelle would have noticed anything
amiss. Mrs. Wright was as cheerful as ever, as kind and careful towards
her little girl, and even more tenderly loving to Jack.

The day was bright and clear, the weather spring-like, as Jack had
promised. Taking advantage of it was the best medicine and tonic that
Estelle could have. The trips in the boat became longer, and very soon
there was even a talk of a walk in the village, which Estelle much
wished to see.

This desire was greatly increased when one afternoon, on returning from
their boating, she found 'la mere Bricolin,' as she was called, sitting
with Mrs. Wright. Madame Bricolin was housekeeper to M. le Cure, and
held herself a little above the fisher-folk, rarely stopping to gossip
with them. But Mrs. Wright was different--as different as Jack was from
the men with whom he went out to ply the nets.

'What do you say, dearie?' cried Mrs Wright, as Estelle entered the
room. 'Here's Mere Bricolin telling me the great fair is to come off
next week.'

(_Continued on page 2