welcome. I long to hear all about the
doctor, poor man, and how he went off at the end. The last words of the
pious are always worth listening to. I'll be glad to hear particulars,
if you can give me half an hour some time, Miss Effie."

"Some time," said Effie.

She walked on, trembling a little. The woman's words and her eager look
of curiosity were dreadful to her; nevertheless, she knew that her
father, under similar circumstances, would have been very patient with
this woman.

By and by she arrived at the heavy front door of the old Grange. She
walked up the steps and rang the bell.

The door was opened almost immediately by a servant in livery. He knew
Effie, and asked her in.

"Is the Squire at home?" she asked.

"I am not sure, miss, but I'll inquire. Will you step in here while I go
to ask?"

The man opened the door of a little sitting room. Effie went in, and he
closed it softly behind him.

After what seemed a very short time, she heard eager steps coming along
the hall--the room door was flung open, and Squire Harvey, accompanied
by his wife, came in.

Mrs. Harvey looked like a shadow--but her sweet face had a tender
blush-rose color about it, her eyes had the intensely clear look which
long illness gives; she was better, but she looked so frail and delicate
that Effie's heart went out to her.

"My dear child," said Mrs. Harvey, "how good, how very good of you to
come! I am only just downstairs. Dr. Edwards only allowed me down
yesterday, but I could not resist coming to welcome you myself. Won't
you come into my sitting room? It is just at the opposite side of the
hall. I'll send Rhoda upstairs to fetch little Freda. She will be so
enraptured at seeing you. Come, my dear. Now that we have got you, we
won't let you go in a hurry. I think it so sweet of you to come to see
us, and under the circumstances. Don't you think it is sweet of her,
Walter, dear?"

Squire Harvey had more perception of character than his wife. He noticed
how white Effie's face grew; he noticed the pathetic trembling of her
hands.

"My dear," he said, "perhaps Miss Staunton wishes to see me by herself.
I understood from the servant that she had asked for me."

"Yes, I did want to see you very much," said Effie.

"Of course, dear little thing," interrupted Mrs. Harvey; "but I'll stay
while you talk to her. I am immensely interested in you. Miss Staunton.
I can never forget, as long as I live, what you and yours have do