r so much kindly consideration;
but it will cure me of such unearthly hours if you feel that you must
conform to them. You look pale this morning, Alida; you're not strong
enough to do such things, and there's no need of it when I'm so used to
waiting on myself."

"I shall have to remind you," she replied with a bright look at him
over her shoulder, "that you said I could do things my own way."

"Well, it seems odd after a year when everyone who came here appeared
to grudge doing a thing for a man's comfort."

"I should hope I was different from them."

"Well, you are. I thought you were different from anyone I ever knew
as I saw you there looking at the east. You seem wonderfully fond of
pretty things."

"I'll own to that. But if you don't hurry you won't do as much as you
hoped by getting up early."

The morning was very mild, and she left the outer door open as she went
quickly to and fro with elasticity of spirit as well as step. It was
pleasant to have her efforts appreciated and almost as grateful to hear
the swelling harmony of song from the awakening birds. The slight
cloud that had fallen on her thoughts the evening before had lifted.
She felt that she understood Holcroft better, and saw that his feeling
was only that of honest friendliness and satisfaction. She had merely
to recognize and respond to so much only and all would be well.
Meantime, she desired nothing more, and he should be thoroughly
convinced of this fact. She grew positively light-hearted over the
fuller assurance of the truth that although a wife, she was not
expected to love--only to be faithful to all his interests. This, and
this only, she believed to be within her power.

Holcroft departed in the serenity characteristic of one's mood when the
present is so agreeable that neither memories of the past nor
misgivings as to the future are obtrusive. He met Watterly in town,
and remarked, "This is another piece of good luck. I hadn't time to go
out to your place, although I meant to take time."

"A piece of good luck indeed!" Tom mentally echoed, for he would have
been greatly embarrassed if Holcroft had called. Mrs. Watterly felt
that she had been scandalized by the marriage which had taken place in
her absence, and was all the more resentful for the reason that she had
spoken to a cousin of uncertain age and still more uncertain temper in
behalf of the farmer. In Mrs. Watterly's estimate of action, it was
either right,