tea, as I never have in my life before."
With her relief at finding Irene's injuries so comparatively slight and
with her heart full of the deep, almost sacred joy their talk had brought
to her, the paleness had vanished from her cheeks, and the happiness in
her heart glowed in her pretty, kind eyes.

"Audrey dear, do you think it would be possible for your mother to see me
for a little while? I want so much to thank her for all the kindness you
are all showing to my bad girl. And as it seems that she will have to
stay here for a day or so, I want to ask her to make an exchange, and
spare me one of you in Irene's place."

"Oh!" Audrey's heart leaped with pleasure. A visit to 'The Orchard' would
be lovely--to have servants, horses and carriages, gardens, and all the
comforts and luxuries she loved so much; what joy! And she had nice
clothes, too, and everything suitable for such a visit. But Mrs. Vivian,
little dreaming of the thoughts rushing through Audrey's head, brought her
castles tumbling to the ground.

"I know I must not ask for you, for you have not long been home, and you
cannot be spared, but I thought, perhaps, Faith would come, or the little
ones--it might be a change for them, and would make a little less work for
you here."

She looked at Audrey inquiringly. For a second there was silence, then
"I am afraid Faith could not be spared--either," Audrey answered in a tone
Mrs. Vivian could not understand, it seemed to hold both shame and
triumph. "She--she is really more useful than I am--much more," she added
emphatically, as though to press home the stab she was dealing herself.

A wave of hot colour poured into her cheeks, then ebbed away, but the glow
in her heart remained, for she had once more conquered herself.

CHAPTER XI.

Never in their lives before had Debby and Tom been thrown into such a
state of such rapturous joy and excitement as when they heard of the
invitation which had been accepted for them, and never, never had they
been called upon to face so bitter a disappointment as that which befell
them before the week was out, when news came to the Vicarage that the
visit must be postponed indefinitely, for measles had broken out at
'The Orchard.' One maid was down with it, and Daphne was, they feared,
sickening. And if Daphne developed it, Keith was almost certain to follow
suit.

"It is almost too dreadful to be borne!" cried Debby tragically, meaning
the disappointment, n