that took place between Jane
Melville and Mary Forrester.

"Will you let me kiss you?" said Jane, timidly, as she said good-bye.
This was rather a remarkable proceeding on Jane's part, for she was not
addicted to the promiscuous osculation so common among young ladies,
but she felt for Mary Forrester no common interest.

Mary frankly granted the little request, and they parted to meet
again--when, and where, and how?

The party then went to Cross Hall, which was unaltered since Jane had
left it; and while Mrs. Phillips and the children were resting after
their journey, Francis took Mr. Phillips and Jane to look at the
cottages he had built, and she mounted her old horse to ride out to see
the allotments, which, even in this short time, showed signs of
improvement. There were words of greeting to be said to everybody and
to every animal about the place. The old servants were eager to tell
her of all that had been done, and all that was to be done; they were
glad to see her in good health, and apparently in good spirits. Many
sad reports had reached Cross Hall about their straitened circumstances
when in Edinburgh, and about poor Miss Elsie falling into a decline;
and to see and hear that all was so well with the sisters was a
pleasant thing for all who were attached to them. After all this had
been gone through, and she went into the room which had been hers and
Elsie's for fifteen years, to dress for dinner, the past, the present,
and the future all came upon her at once, and she felt as if she could
have given the world for the opportunity to give way. Everything was
exactly as she had left it; all the furniture which had been taken to
Edinburgh had been brought back and placed as it used to be.

"Can I help you, any way, Miss Jane?" said Susan, the upper housemaid,
tapping at the door.

"No, thank you," said Jane: then recollecting herself, and hoping that
the presence of the girl might help to steady her nerves--"but stop, do
come in for a little, and brush my hair. I am too tired, I think, to do
it; and my head aches a little."

"Is everything right here? The master said I was to tell him exactly
how things used to be, that ye should see nae change."

"All is right," said Jane. "If Elsie were here I might forget that I
ever had left Cross Hall; and I see that our people have no cause to
miss us, so that we can go to Australia with lighter hearts."

But for all this talk about a light heart, the tears would