r all that, I'm puzzled."

Muriel smiled. "As Helen is my friend, you ought to be flattered.
Doesn't it look as if I was satisfied with you?"

"We'll let that go. You took something for granted. I suppose you see
you might have been mistaken about my feelings?"

"Then no harm would have been done," Muriel rejoined, and putting down
her fan, gave him a steady look. "Was I mistaken?"

"You were not," said Festing quietly. "I mean to marry Miss Dalton if
she is willing. I'm anxious to know what chance I've got."

"I can't tell you that. Perhaps I have gone far enough; but George's
reformation is a good certificate of your character, and Helen and her
mother owe you a debt of gratitude."

Festing colored rather angrily. "My helping the lad was, so to speak,
an accident; I don't want to be judged by this, and won't urge the debt.
Miss Dalton must take me on my merits."

"You have pluck; it's a bold claim," said Muriel in a dry tone, and then
got up as Gardiner and the curate came in.

Next day Festing went to the Scar, and when Mrs. Dalton received him she
put her hand gently on his arm. She said enough, but not too much, and
he was moved as he saw the moisture glisten in her eyes.

"I don't deserve this," he answered awkwardly. "I found the lad in some
trouble, but hadn't to make much effort to help him out. In fact, it was
the kind of thing one does without thinking and forgets."

"Ah," said Mrs. Dalton, "the consequences of one's deeds follow one,
whether they're good or bad." Then she gave him a very friendly smile.
"But perhaps we had better join the rest outside."

Festing found Helen in the garden with her aunt and some friends, but
the others left them by and by, and they walked alone among the flowers.
The day was calm, the light clear, and the shadow of the dark beeches on
the hill crept slowly across the lawn. Beyond a low hedge, woods, smooth
pastures, and fields of ripening corn rolled back and melted into the
blue shadow beneath the rugged fells. It seemed to Festing that the
peaceful sylvan landscape was touched by a glamour that centered in the
fresh beauty of the girl. Sometimes they were silent, and sometimes
they talked about the mountains, but when they went back to the house he
thought they had got nearer.

He returned to the Scar without Muriel a week later, and went again, and
one evening stood with Helen on the terrace. Gentle rain had fallen
for most of the day, but it had stopped, and a