ome and stay here, if it is only for two days, and be kind to
papa, and then I will go with him to Manor Cross."

Lady Sarah was much surprised by the courage and persistence of the
young wife's plea. The girl had become a woman, and was altered even in
appearance. She certainly looked older, but then she was certainly much
more beautiful than before. She was dressed, not richly, but with care,
and looked like a woman of high family. Lady Sarah, who never changed
either the colour or the material of her brown morning gown, liked to
look at her, telling herself that should it ever be this woman's fate
to be Marchioness of Brotherton, she would not in appearance disgrace
the position. "I hope you can understand that we are very anxious about
you," she said.

"I don't know."

"You might know, then. Your baby will be a Germain."

"Ah,--yes,--for that! You can't think I am happy without George. I am
longing all day long, from morning to night, that he will come back to
me. But after all that has happened, I must do what papa advises. If I
were just to go to Manor Cross now, and allow myself to be carried
there alone, you would all feel that I had been--forgiven. Isn't that
true?"

"You would be very welcome."

"Susanna would forgive me, and your mother. And I should be like a girl
who has been punished, and who is expected to remember ever so long
that she has been naughty. I won't be forgiven, except by George,--and
he has nothing to forgive. You would all think me wicked if I were
there, because I would not live in your ways."

"We should not think you wicked, Mary."

"Yes, you would. You thought me wicked before."

"Don't you believe we love you, Mary?"

She considered a moment before she made a reply, but then made it very
clearly: "No," she said, "I don't think you do. George loves me. Oh, I
hope he loves me."

"You may be quite sure of that. And I love you."

"Yes;--just as you love all people, because the Bible tells you. That
is not enough."

"I will love you like a sister, Mary, if you will come back to us."

She liked being asked. She was longing to be once more with her
husband. She desired of all things to be able to talk to him of her
coming hopes. There was something in the tone of Lady Sarah's voice,
different from the tones of old, which had its effect. She would
promise to go if only some slightest concession could be made, which
should imply that neither she nor her father had given just c