e you not coming down to the
drawing-room again?'

'I would rather not, please,' I said; for I felt I could not go through
all the questions and remarks that would assail me.

Mrs. Forsyth did not stay, and I, trying to fight with the nameless
fears in my heart, took refuge and comfort in prayer.

CHAPTER XVI

DARK DAYS

'Rest thou in God, amid all changes;
Be pleased with all He may ordain;
Wait patient till what He arranges,
For thy best welfare shall be plain;
God who has chosen us as His,
Knows best what our true welfare is.'--_Neumark._

The wedding passed off successfully. I think I was the only one who
felt out of harmony with the brightness and gaiety all around. Though
the Forsyths felt the loss of their eldest daughter, there was much to
soften their regret at parting with her. She was not going very far
away from them; she and her husband seemed exactly suited to each other
in many ways, and she was going to a comfortable, luxurious home.

I think too that Nelly occupied a warmer place in their hearts than
Constance. The latter seemed to live so entirely for herself, and her
nature was so cold and unsympathetic that her presence did not always
make home the happier for it. Nelly was the sunshine of the house, and
it was she who up to the last kept up an atmosphere of sparkling
brightness which none could withstand.

We felt rather 'flat,' as Kenneth expressed it, when all was over and
the guests had departed. My thoughts were with Philip, and when, two
days after his departure, the post brought me a letter in his
handwriting, I opened it with trembling fingers. It was very short.

'MY DARLING,--

'I am off to America on this business that I spoke to you about. Will
send you my address later on, but my movements are quite uncertain. So
sorry that your visit to Cobham Hall must be postponed. God bless you!

'Yours
'PHILIP.'

I had expected something of this sort, and was hardly surprised, though
I did wish he had written more fully. When I told the others, I had to
bear a great deal of comment and commiseration.

'I cannot bear mysteries,' said General Forsyth; 'why can't the fellow
tell his business instead of being so vague about it?'

'He is so exceedingly reticent about his affairs,' said Mrs. Forsyth,
'that one seems to know very little more about him now than one did at
first. Are you in his confidence, Hugh?'

'If I were, I would be hardly likel