legally bequeathed to her; and,
after the first excitement of it was over, she thanked God with all her
heart that she had now a certain dwelling. She had a great dislike to
change, and was so wedded to the country round her, and had made so
many friends amongst the poor, that it had been a secret dread for a
long time that the owner would return, and they would have to move.
She was telling Elfie something of the relief it was to her, when the
latter remarked,--

'Ah, well, Agatha, Nannie's text for you is true: "Trust in the Lord,
and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be
fed!" You are provided for, at any rate.'

'And don't you find your verse true, too?' asked Agatha quietly.

Elfie coloured a little, then laughed.

'Yes, I do; but life is so pleasant that I have had nothing to put my
happiness to the test.'

'And I hope it never need be,' was Agatha's response.

Not long after this Agatha was surprised by a visitor one afternoon,
and this was no other than Major Lester.

He bowed stiffly to her when she entered the room.

'I have heard from my lawyer that the strange report flying about this
neighbourhood is true,' he began abruptly. 'You will excuse my coming
to you to make a few inquiries, but had you any acquaintance with my
poor brother before you came here?'

'None whatever,' was Agatha's prompt reply.

'Then he is a perfect stranger to you?'

Agatha hesitated; then she said slowly,--

'I do not suppose it will matter now my mentioning it, but Mr. Lester
came here about a month ago.'

Major Lester looked astonished.

'I was unaware that my brother had been in England at all since his
visit abroad; but he always was most erratic. And may I ask why his
visit was to be kept a mystery?'

'I don't think there was any mystery about it. He simply asked me not
to mention it.'

'Did he leave no message for me? May I ask his errand?'

'He left no message.'

Agatha was dignity itself. She was going to reveal nothing more, and
Major Lester saw as much, and resented it accordingly.

'Well, I see you and my brother came to some understanding together;
and, I suppose, this freak of his is the result.'

Then, pulling himself up, as he felt his temper was getting the better
of him, he added, more blandly, 'Pray do not think I object to you as
permanent neighbours. If I had any ladies in my household, they would
have called on you before this. I came to you this mo