going to worry me with questions, you can just run
away; if you were to be kept awake night after night, and never know
what it was to be without headaches, having every nerve in your body
quivering from exhaustion, you wouldn't wonder what the matter was.'

'I expect you're like Violet, only she could never leave her bed. Mr.
Russell said she would sometimes have no sleep all night, and she was
so patient, she used to say, "Read me about there shall be no pain."
Mr. Russell said he wouldn't have been half so patient as she was. And
now she is singing right in the middle of "these are they which came
out of great tribulation." Wouldn't you like to be her?'

Grace was silent. Betty's active little tongue turned to other
subjects; she told about her visit to the Hall, of her 'dead figure'
which was being made out of 'soft putty'; of Prince's misdemeanours
when he tried to chase chickens, and then came back to his little
mistress with his tail between his legs; of Douglas and Molly's
wonderful games, and the twins' talents for getting into trouble; she
told her of her walk on the roof, and the story of the young soldiers
related by Uncle Harry; and Grace listened, and eventually was amused
and interested in spite of herself.

It was a long time before Betty was summoned to the house; and then she
met the major in the hall.

'Run in, little one, and wish Mrs. Fairfax good-bye.'

Mrs. Fairfax stooped to kiss Betty; all the hard lines in her face had
disappeared, and her voice was unusually gentle.

'You must come and see me another day, when I have no business to
occupy me.'

And Betty put her arms round her neck, and gave her a delighted hug.

'You will meet Nesta coming back from the church if you keep to the
lane,' Mrs. Fairfax said, speaking to Major St. Clair; 'and we shall
expect you to dinner tomorrow.'

He raised his hat, and strode round the shrubbery with such energy that
it was all Betty could do to keep up with him.

'Don't you think Mrs. Fairfax like a queen?' asked Betty presently.
'Was she like what I told you?'

'I have seen Mrs. Fairfax before,' was the major's short reply; and
Betty gave a little disappointed 'Oh!'

Not long afterwards they came in sight of Nesta. She was walking along
rather slowly, her eyes and her thoughts far away; but when she saw who
it was, a quick colour spread over her face.

Major St. Clair stepped forward quickly.

'Your mother has sent me to you,' he said;