er to think
that I must tell Aunt Sophia and Verena and the rest of them the whole
truth; but, bitter or not, I am going to do it, and I am going back to
them, for it is right. I want to go back to them this very day. May I?"

"Yes, my lass; I understand you," said the farmer gravely.

* * * * *

It was a lovely day for the time of year; although it was November, the
sun shone brilliantly. Miss Tredgold stood on the lawn in front of the
house and talked to Verena, who stood by her side.

"I understand all of you now, Verena," she said, "except Pauline. I never
did understand her, and I sometimes think I never shall, poor child!"

"Oh, yes, you will," said Verena. "When Paulie comes back she will be as
you never knew her--as she used to be, her sweetest and best. In some
ways she is stronger and better and braver than any of us. I think she
ought to make a splendid woman some day, for she has so much character
and so much determination."

"I think I have done the rest of you good by coming here; but if I have
done Pauline harm, I sometimes wonder if I can ever be happy again," said
the poor lady.

"You have not done her harm. Only wait until she comes back. She is just
getting the right treatment now. She felt everything so terribly that her
mind was quite numb and incapable of conducting her right for a time; but
wait until she returns."

"Day after day I long and hope for her return," said Miss Tredgold, "but
day after day there is a fresh excuse."

"And yet you say you want her to return," said Verena. "Oh, aunty, aunty!
who is this coming up the path? Here she is--Paulie herself; and Nancy is
following her, and there is Farmer King. They have entered by the
wicket-gate and are coming up through the plantation. Oh, look, look! And
she is well. I know by the way she walks, by the way she runs, by the way
she smiles. She is as well as ever she was in all her life."

"Better--far better than ever!" cried Pauline's gay and almost rollicking
voice. "Here I am, stronger than ever, and quite, quite well."

The next moment Pauline's arms were flung round her aunt's neck.

"You must forgive me first of all," she said. "I have come back to
confess, and I want to get my confession over. I want all the others to
stand round and listen. Ah! here they come. Don't rush at me for a
moment, girls. Don't hug me or do anything of that sort. Stand still and
listen, listen, listen.