friends, but not one from her old
home. It was as if she had entered another world. Already she had
grown so accustomed to it that she felt as if she had known it for
years. And she had no desire to return. The thought of the summer
gaieties she was foregoing inspired her with no regret. Isolated
though she was, she was not unhappy. She had only just begun to
realize it, and not yet could she ask herself wherefore.

A distinct chill began to creep round her with the approach of
night. She lifted the bridle, and Diamond broke into a trot. Back
to Blue Hill Farm they went, leaving the silence and the loneliness
behind them as they drew near. Mary Ann was scolding the girl from
the open door of the kitchen. Her shrill vituperations banished
all retrospection from Sylvia's mind. She found herself laughing
as she slipped to the ground and handed the horse over to Joe.

Then she went within, calling to the girl to light the lamps.
There was still mending to be done in Burke's wardrobe. She
possessed herself of some socks, and went to their sitting-room.
Her former restlessness was returning, but she resolutely put it
from her, and for more than an hour she worked steadily at her
task. Then, the socks finished, she took up a book on
cattle-raising and tried to absorb herself in its pages.

She soon realized, however, that this was quite hopeless, and, at
last, in desperation she flung on a cloak and went outside. The
night was still, the sky a wonderland of stars. She paced to and
fro with her face uplifted to the splendour for a long, long time.
And still there came no sound of hoofs along the lonely track.

Gradually she awoke to the fact that she was getting very tired.
She began to tell herself that she had been too hopeful. They
would not come that night.

Her knees were getting shaky, and she went indoors. A cold supper
had been spread. She sat down and partook of food, scarcely
realizing what she ate. Then, reviving, she rallied herself on her
foolishness. Of course they would not come that night. She had
expected too much, had worn herself out to no purpose. She
summoned her common sense to combat her disappointment, and
commanded herself sternly to go to bed before exhaustion overtook
her. She had behaved like a positive idiot. It was high time she
pulled herself together.

It was certainly growing late. Mary Ann and her satellites had
already retired to their own quarters some little