see what she really wishes, not what she thinks her duty. Take her
out walking, you both need it badly enough."

They ventured to comply, and eluding Mr. Charnock, went into the
park, silvery with the unstanched dews, and the leaves floating down
one by one like golden rain. "Not much like the Bush," said Miles.

"No," was all Anne durst say.

"Poor Nan, how dreary it must have looked to you last year!"

"I am afraid I wrote very complaining letters!"

"Not complaining, but a direful little effort at content, showing
the more piteously, because involuntarily, what a mistake I had
made."

"No, no mistake. Indeed, Miles, it was not. Nothing else would
have cured me of the dreadful uncharitableness which was the chief
cause of my unhappiness, and if I had not been so forlorn, I should
never have seen how good and patient your mother was with me. Yes,
I mean it. I read over my old diary and saw how tiresome and
presumptuous I was, and how wonderfully she bore with me, and so did
Julius and Rosamond, while all the time I fancied them--no
Christians."

"Ah! you child! You know I would never have done it if I had known
you were to be swamped among brides. At any rate, this poor old
place doesn't look so woefully dismal and hateful to you now."

"It could not, where you are, and where I have so many to know and
love."

"You can bear the downfall of our Bush schemes?"

"Your duty is here now."

"Are you grieved, little one?"

"I don't know. I should like to have seen mamma; but she does not
need me now as your mother does."

"Then you are willing to be her daughter?"

"I have tried hard, and she is very kind; but I am far too dull and
ignorant for her. I can only wait upon her; but when she has you
and Julius to talk to, my stupidity will not matter."

"Would you be content to devote yourself to her, instead of making a
home of our own?"

"She can't be left alone in that great house."

"The question is, can you be happy in it? or do you wish for a house
to ourselves?"

"You don't, Miles, it is your own home."

"That's not the question."

"Miles, why do you look at me so?"

"I was told to ascertain your wishes."

"I don't wish anything--now I have you--but to be a comfort to your
mother. That is my first earthly wish just now."

"If that be earthly, it has a touch of the heavenly," muttered Miles
to himself. "You will make it clear to mother then that you like to
go on with her?"

"If