flush of pleasure crossed his face. If he had ever doubted the
reality of her affection for him, he could not have doubted it to-night,
when every moment her gentleness and soft, appealing manner seemed to
plead for forgetfulness of the past, and to hold out a safer promise for
the future.

"I must come and see your mother," Bessie heard her say later on. "Mamma
thinks of taking rooms for the season, and then I shall see her often;
shall you like that, Neville?"

"There is only one thing I should like better," he replied, and there
was a smile on his face as he got up and wished them good-night; and
then he said something in a low voice to Edna.

"Very well," she answered, with a bend of her graceful head, and she
rose from her seat and walked to the door.

Mrs. Sefton looked after them with an indulgent smile.

"He wants a word with her alone; Edna won't refuse him anything
to-night. How happy they are, Bessie! Dear Neville is so satisfied; he
told me that he was struck with the improvement in Edna; he thinks her
so much more womanly and so gentle, but he is troubled about her
delicacy; but she will get better now all this worry is at an end." And
Bessie acquiesced in this.

When Edna came back, a little while afterward, she went straight to her
mother and knelt down by her chair.

"Mother dear," she said, tenderly, "Neville has forgiven me, and you
must forgive me, too."

"I forgive you my darling!" in a startled tone.

"Yes, for being such a bad daughter; but I will be good; indeed, I will
be good now;" and, worn out with the emotions of the day, Edna laid her
head on her mother's lap and burst into tears.

Bessie, touched to the heart by this little display of feeling, went
softly out of the room, and left the mother and child together.

CHAPTER XXIII.

MRS. SEFTON HAS ANOTHER VISITOR.

It was impossible for Neville Sinclair to tear himself away from
Brighton for another twenty-four hours, so he telegraphed to his mother
and made arrangements to take another day's holiday. He settled this
before he slept that night, and presented himself at Glenyan Mansions
long before the late breakfast was over. He and Bessie exchanged an
amused glance as they shook hands, which was instantly detected by Edna,
and she at once insisted on an explanation.

Mr. Sinclair laughed mischievously.

"The fact is," he said, "Miss Lambert and I have met before this
morning;" which was the truth, for Bessie had enc