tage of him, Madge. I swear it. Something has
happened. I am a different man, and my whole life will be changed."

His tone and manner gave her more hope than even his words.

"I am going to set to work in earnest; and he will be repaid for all he
means to do."

"Are you sure?" she murmured; adding a little doubtfully, with the
remembrance of past experience: "But how?"

"That you will see later on."

She was to see, in another way than that he supposed. Meredith lost no
time in striving to gain the prize he had set his heart upon, returning
again and again to the Priory until he had won his wife.

It was the last evening of their stay at the old place. On the morrow
Margaret Verschoyle was to be his wife, and they were to go direct to
his beautiful Devonshire home for the purpose of comfortably installing
her mother there, before setting forth on the tour. Mrs. Verschoyle's
health had wonderfully improved with the knowledge of her children's
bright prospects; and wonders were expected from the soft Devonshire
air.

They had been reading a letter from Laurence, full of hope and
enthusiasm for the new life he had begun in Canada, where he had chosen
to make his start, Meredith having rendered the way easy for him.

As they lingered on the terrace, the happy girl ventured to whisper out
the confession that had to be made before she became his wife. She must
have no secrets from him now.

"Allan, you know now--Laurence has told you what he meant to do. But
there is something else you ought to know. How shall I tell you? He
thought he saw a ghost that night; but, oh, Allan, it was I!"

"I don't think he would have done it after all, darling. I believe he
would have made a clean breast of it in the morning, in any case."

"But are you not surprised to hear it was I who played the ghost the
second time?"

He replied only by a caress.

"I did it in the desperation of the moment, and fear gave me courage."

"The first time I have heard of fear giving courage," taking the sweet
face between his hands and looking into her eyes.

"Oh, well! I meant fear for him. I thought--I feared that Laurence was
going into your room--I watched him go; and then, putting on a long
waterproof cloak, and drawing the hood over my head to look like the
monk, I followed him. It was I who put the pocket-book back."

"How did you manage it?" with a smile.

[Illustration: "HOW DID YOU MANAGE IT?"]

"You see, you had left your windo