a story now, when
Faith disturbed her, a very sentimental one, as she sat by her bedroom
window and gazed at the road winding up to the moor. 'He'--the lover--was
striding along it with set jaws and haggard eyes, while 'she'--the
heroine--sat at just such a window as Audrey's own, and gazed after him
through tear-filled eyes. And Audrey was just trying to decide whether
'she' should wave a relenting handkerchief and call him back, or watch him
depart for ever and die of a broken heart, when Faith popped her head in.

"Very well," she said, and sighed.

"And will you get her a glass of milk at seven? She must not have it
later or she will have indigestion all night----"

"Oh, I know all about that, of course." Faith so often forgot that she,
Audrey, was the eldest,--and mistress of the house for the time.

"And will you read to her----"

"Oh there is no need to do that, mother and I can always find plenty to
talk about, we have so many tastes alike----"

"She likes to have the Evening Service read to her, and the hymns and the
lessons. The numbers of the hymns are on a slip of paper on the
mantelpiece. I will go now and see that Tom and Debby are getting ready."

"All right." It never occurred to Audrey to go and see to them for Faith,
while she got herself ready.

"Oh, and Audrey, Joan is in bed, but will you go in and look at her after
I have gone to see that she is covered up? she throws off----"

"Oh yes, of course, I'll attend to everything. Don't worry so."

"Thank you. I will see to the supper when I come back. Mary is out
to-night."

"Oh, is she! What a bother. Never mind, I'll look after things and sit
with mother. I want to talk to her about a story I am going to write."

"Oh, Audrey, how lovely!" Faith gazed at her sister with eyes full of
wistful admiration. "I wish I could hear about it too."

"Oh, you wouldn't understand." Nevertheless, Audrey was very well pleased
with her sister's appreciation.

"But I could listen, and try to. Will you have done before I come home?"

"Oh yes, of course."

Tom began to shout from down below and Faith started off at a run.
"He can't find his hat and I promised to help him look for it," she added
hastily.

"Faith," Audrey called after her, "don't say anything to anybody else
about my story," she added in a lower tone as she leaned over the stairs.
"Don't tell father, or the children, or--or Mary. I don't want anyone to
know anything ab