ed troubled as he
drew her closer to him.

'My darling, you would not really wish me to. We must look forward to
six months hence, when I return, and then, Clare, I shall wait no
longer. You must come to me for good and all.'

Clare did not reply for a minute, then gently slipping her hand into
the strong one near her, she said, very wistfully, 'Hugh, don't you
think we should both have more comfort if we had more religion? I
haven't enough of it to satisfy me, I think. Now Agatha trusts
everything in her life to--to God, and is never worried or anxious. I
can't do that, and oh, I'm so unsatisfied! You don't know how restless
and wretched I feel sometimes! I should like to be able to pray for
you properly when you are away, and feel that you were praying for me.'

Captain Knox was silent for a little, then he said quietly,--

'I have a certain amount of religion, as you know, and you couldn't
have too much for me, at least as long as you keep it to yourself. I
think every woman is the better for being truly religious; but we men
who knock about amongst all kinds of evil, well, we can't expect to be
very devout. It is soon knocked out of one. Pray for me as much as
you like, darling; I need it!'

'I can't help thinking of Nannie's verse she gave me one evening,' said
Clare, with a little sigh: '"Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for
Him." It sounds so nice; but I don't know how to do it. And I am sure
I shall need patience till you come back again!'

'We must write to each other, and think of next autumn. I shall not
forget to send you the translation of those characters on that old
cupboard. I am convinced they are Arabic.'

'Oh, bother the cupboard!' was Clare's petulant retort. 'It is too bad
you are going away for so long, and you take it so coolly. I don't
believe you mind a bit!'

Here she burst into a passion of tears, and poor Captain Knox, who was
controlling his feelings for her sake, almost gave way himself.

It was not a happy evening, and Clare cried herself to sleep that
night, feeling that she was the most unfortunate, wretched girl in the
world. She crept down the next morning with a white face to give him
his early breakfast, and then drove to Brambleton station with him; so
no one saw the last parting. When she returned, she went upstairs to
her room, and shut herself up for the rest of the morning.

'It is a pity Clare did not show her affection for him more when she
wa