d
her eyes grew suddenly moist. She was thinking how blessedly well off
she was in her cheery, sunny little home, with husband and child to love
her, and good health to enable her to do her work, and to find pleasure
in the doing; and the picture of the strange old man lying on his couch
in the dim oak-panelled halls seemed by comparison gloomier than ever.

"We'll help him, Kit!" she said briskly. "We'll help him, you and I!
We'll make his life brighter for him, and cheer him in every way we
know!"

But, as it turned out, Mr Vanburgh was not anxious to be cheered, and
Mrs Maitland found it more difficult than she expected to put her good
resolves into practice.

CHAPTER NINE.

NED'S MISSION.

On Thursday evening, Mr and Mrs Rendell returned home from their
Continental trip. The house was spick and span, the girls were blooming
in pretty evening dresses, and the travellers themselves looked
immensely benefited by their holiday, so that the kissings and huggings
of welcome were exchanged under the happiest conditions.

Nan was thankful to feel that no shade of displeasure lurked behind the
tenderness of her mother's greeting, and before the evening was over
actually screwed up courage to put a question concerning the discovery
of the scattered rice.

The explanation was disappointingly simple. Mr and Mrs Rendell
exchanged a smiling glance, and appeared much amused by the girls'
discomfiture.

"Well, my dear, we had the carriage to ourselves as far as Dover, and
your mother suggested in her thoughtful way that it would be wise to get
some wraps ready, as it was often very cold on the pier. Obedient as
ever, I unstrapped the bundle, and discovered your nice little plot. We
lifted the cushions, poured all the loose rice on the seats, shook the
cloaks out of the window, put down the cushions again, and had
everything clear and tidy in ten minutes' time! It was a nice little
diversion, which came just as we had finished reading our papers. Most
thoughtful of you to provide it for us!"

"And you had no stray pieces left? None that caught in your clothes,
and shook out afterwards?"

"I had a cloth brush in my bag, and I used it well. I am sorry to
distress you; but we were not once mistaken for Edwin and Angelina. It
was a brilliant inspiration on your part, and I sympathise with your
disappointment. I said at once, `This is Nan's doing!' and wished I was
near, to pay you out for your audacity. I