just starting. She
spoke on the impulse of the moment, and Clement Arkwright never forgot
the look of despairing hopelessness on her face as she held out her
hand to him.

'Good-bye--we are off. You told me once that I would bring disaster
upon myself by my obstinate wilfulness. I have done so. You warned me
on the steamer against Mr. Montmorency. But I would not listen, and he
has ruined the whole lot of us.'

The train steamed out of the station, and Clement Arkwright turned away
with a grave, thoughtful face.

'Poor Gwen! Yet it will be the making of her, if she can once be got
to confess that her judgment is not infallible. I should like to get
hold of that scoundrel!'

It was about five o'clock when Gwen reached Brambleton. She left her
luggage at the station, and tramped through the driving rain and wind
with fierce indifference, arriving at Jasmine Cottage with drenched
garments, and weary, footsore feet.

The lamps were lighted in the drawing-room, and the shutters were not
closed. Gwen stepped quietly up to the window and looked in. It was a
cosy, cheerful scene. Agatha was sitting with a smile on her face by a
bright fire, knitting in hand. Clare was reading aloud on the opposite
side of the fireplace, and Elfie in her favourite position on the low
fender-stool, tempting a grey Persian kitten to perform acrobatical
antics with Agatha's ball of wool.

'How changed will be the scene a few minutes later!' thought Gwen
bitterly, and she knocked sharply at the door. It was opened by a maid
who had superseded Jane, and who looked suspiciously at the drenched
figure.

'You have mistaken this for the vicarage,' she said superciliously.
'If you want shelter or food, you will get it there!'

Gwen swung her aside with a quick impatient laugh, and opened the
drawing-room door. In another moment, with cries of astonishment and
delight, her sisters were caressing and welcoming her; but she pushed
them away from her.

'Let me tell you how I come back first,' she said sharply. 'You will
not give me such a hearty welcome when you know. I have ruined Walter;
the gold company has been a big swindle, and every penny of our money
has all gone. Now what do you say to me?'

'Never mind the money now,' said Agatha, who was never discomposed.
'Come upstairs to bed at once, you are wet through. How could you walk
through such a storm! Not another word till you have had something to
eat. Come along--you