may never be back again."

"Don't say that, Jean," her father implored. "Why should you leave us
when we want you so much? Your mother's heart is aching for her little
girl."

"I know it, I know it, daddy dear. I have been very bad and cruel to
you both. But I have something to wipe out, and I shall never rest
content until I have done what I can to atone for my past sad mistake
in life."

"Where are you going, Jean?" Nell asked.

"I cannot tell you now. But it is a great work to which I am going,
and some day you will be proud of me, and so will the people of Rixton.
They scorn me now, and they surely have good reason for doing so."

"But, Jean darling, you will tell us where you are going before you
leave, will you not?" her father asked. "You will come home first?"

"Yes, I shall go with you now. And in a few days you will all know
where I am going, and what I expect to do. Come, daddy, let us go.
Good-bye, Nell, I shall see you before I leave."

Taking her father by the arm, she led him from the church, and up the
lane leading to the main road. Nell watched them until they had
disappeared from view. She then closed the church and hurried across
the field, for it was getting late and her father would be waiting for
her. But her heart was lighter than it had been for days. Jean was
her old self again, and she was so thankful. But she wondered where
she was going, and what she was about to do. That it was something
noble, she could tell by the expression of hope in Jean's eyes, and the
look of animation which had overspread her face as she told about her
intended departure.

When Nell reached the church Sunday afternoon, she found a large number
of people already there. It had been rumoured that the Bishop was to
hold the service, and it was expected that he would speak about the
war, and also have something to say concerning the new clergyman who
was to come to the parish.

Nell had not been idle since Friday, and Saturday night the first choir
practice in months had been held. The members were now all in their
places as she entered the church and went at once to the organ. Having
arranged her books, she next placed a list of hymns in a hymn book and
took it into the vestry room for the clergyman's use. It was a most
perfect August afternoon, and through the open vestry came the fresh
air laden with perfume of meadow and forest, and the music of birds.

Having placed the book on the litt