from
memory's sight, as autumn leaves. Her face alone abides; calm, holy,
tender, beautiful,--it is always before me. And it pains me that one
who has only seen her as MY hand depicted her should speak of her as
plain."

"Forgive me," said Nurse Rosemary, humbly. "I did not mean to pain you,
sir. And, to show you what your pictures have done for me, may I tell
you a resolution I made in the studio? I cannot miss what they
depict--the sweetest joys of life--for want of the courage to confess
myself wrong; pocket my pride; and be frank and humble. I am going to
write a full confession to my young man, as to my share of the
misunderstanding which has parted us. Do you think he will understand?
Do you think he will forgive?"

Garth smiled. He tried to call up an image of a pretty troubled face,
framed in a fluffy setting of soft fair hair. It harmonised so little
with the voice; but it undoubtedly was Nurse Rosemary Gray, as others
saw her.

"He will be a brute if he doesn't, child," he said.

CHAPTER XXXI

IN LIGHTER VEIN

Dinner that evening, the first at their small round table, was a great
success. Nurse Rosemary's plans all worked well; and Garth delighted in
arrangements which made him feel less helpless.

The strain of the afternoon brought its reaction of merriment. A little
judicious questioning drew forth further stories of the duchess and her
pets; and Miss Champion's name came in with a frequency which they both
enjoyed.

It was a curious experience for Jane, to hear herself described in
Garth's vivid word-painting. Until that fatal evening at Shenstone, she
had been remarkably free from self-consciousness; and she had no idea
that she had a way of looking straight into people's eyes when she
talked to them, and that that was what muddled up "the silly little
minds of women who say they are afraid of her, and that she makes them
nervous! You see she looks right into their shallow shuffling little
souls, full of conceited thoughts about themselves, and nasty
ill-natured thoughts about her; and no wonder they grow panic-stricken,
and flee; and talk of her as 'that formidable Miss Champion.' I never
found her formidable; but, when I had the chance of a real talk with
her, I used to be thankful I had nothing of which to be ashamed. Those
clear eyes touched bottom every time, as our kindred over the water so
expressively put it."

Neither had Jane any idea that she always talked with a poker, if