ce in her direction.

Bessie greeted him quietly, and went back to her corner; the surprise
was a very pleasant one for her. Richard looked well, and more animated
than usual.

"I thought we arranged that you were not to come until to-morrow week,
Richard," observed Mrs. Sefton, in her usual cold manner: and it was
evident that she was not pleased at her stepson's arrival. "I told you
particularly Miss Shelton was coming this week."

"Oh, yes, I knew Miss Shelton would be here; but Saturday week would not
have suited me at all. I don't mean to put you out, mother. I have taken
a room at the Grand Hotel. I can have my meals there, too, if you like."

"Nonsense, Ritchie!" returned Edna, good-humoredly; "our dining-room is
not so small as that. You may have your breakfast at your hotel, and
then spend the rest of the day with us. Miss Shelton will be delighted
to have you; she was singing your praises just now."

"I saw Neville in town this afternoon," observed Richard, with a
significant glance at his sister. "'All's well that ends well,' eh,
Edna? So the comedy of errors is played out."

"Come into the other room and I will tell you all about it," replied
Edna, taking hold of his arm in a friendly fashion. "Mamma, I suppose
there is enough dinner for Richard, but I don't mean to let him go
away."

"Neither do I mean to go," added Richard, with a laugh, as he allowed
himself to be led out of the room.

"How well he looks! older and nicer, I think," observed Miss Shelton, as
the young people left the room.

"Do you think so?" replied Mrs. Sefton, indifferently. "Richard is
always terribly boorish in appearance; and as to his manners, nothing
will polish them. But what can you expect, when he affects the company
of farmers? Neville is worth a hundred of him," she continued, as she
rose, with a discontented expression, to give some further orders.

Miss Shelton shook her head in a disapproving fashion.

"What a mistake," she said quietly, "always to undervalue that poor boy!
I am glad to see Edna is improved in that respect. He is a great
favorite of mine, Miss Lambert. I found out he had a kind heart when I
was in trouble once. As Edna says, we are great friends."

"He is very nice," agreed Bessie, and then she went to her room to
prepare for dinner. Yes, she was very glad he had come, though the sight
of his familiar face had brought back the memory of that last sad day at
The Grange. They had not met for sev