nse might be easy to obtain; but how
about his forgiveness? That must be obtained first. If there were only
this darling boy to deal with, in his white flannels and yellow roses,
with a May-Day madness in his veins, the license might come at once;
and all he could wish should happen without delay. But this is a
passing phase of Garth. What she has to deal with is the white-faced
man, who calmly said: "I accept the cross," and walked down the village
church leaving her--for all these years. Loving her, as he loved her;
and yet leaving her,--without word or sign, for three long years. To
hire, was the confession; his would be the decision; and, somehow, it
did not surprise her, when she came down to luncheon, a little late, to
find HIM seated at the table.

"Miss Gray," he said gravely, as he heard her enter, "I must apologise
for my behaviour this morning. I was what they call up here 'fey.'
Margery understands the mood; and together she and I have listened to
kind Mother Earth, laying our hands on her sympathetic softness, and
she has told us her secrets. Then I lay down under the fir trees and
slept; and awakened calm and sane, and ready for what to-day must
bring. For it WILL bring something. That is no delusion. It is a day of
great things. That much, Margery knows, too."

"Perhaps," suggested Nurse Rosemary, tentatively, "there may be news of
interest in your letters."

"Ah," said Garth, "I forgot. We have not even opened this morning's
letters. Let us take time for them immediately after lunch. Are there
many?"

"Quite a pile," said Nurse Rosemary.

"Good. We will work soberly through them."

Half an hour later Garth was seated in his chair, calm and expectant;
his face turned towards his secretary. He had handled his letters, and
amongst them he had found one sealed; and the seal was a plumed helmet,
with visor closed. Nurse Rosemary saw him pale, as his fingers touched
it. He made no remark; but, as before, slipped it beneath the rest,
that it might come up for reading, last of all.

When the others were finished, and Nurse Rosemary took up this letter,
the room was very still. They were quite alone. Bees hummed in the
garden. The scent of flowers stole in at the window. But no one
disturbed their solitude.

Nurse Rosemary took up the envelope.

"Mr. Dalmain, here is a letter, sealed with scarlet wax. The seal is a
helmet with visor--"

"I know," said Garth. "You need not describe it further. Kindly