nclouded sunshine on earth, and I don't think I would have it so,
otherwise we should perhaps lose the experience of "dwelling deep," and
I would not wish that.'

'Have you seen Kenneth at all lately?' Miss Rayner asked. 'I heard he
was up in town. Do you know, I used to fancy that he was very partial
to you.'

I laughed. 'He says he is still; but Kenneth is just Kenneth, Miss
Rayner! I look upon him as a brother. He was calling here the other
afternoon and brought Captain Gates with him.'

'Was that your friend?'

'Yes; but he got over that a long time ago. He is engaged to a very
nice girl, I believe, and told me he was steadying down. I wish he had
the real thing in his life; but perhaps it may come yet.'

A short time after dinner I was surprised by Mr. Ratcliffe being
announced. Miss Rayner did not happen to be in the room. He looked a
little awkward, I thought, and said, 'I meant to have given Miss Rayner
a Report of our Mission this morning, and thought I would bring it
round, as I understood she was leaving you to-morrow morning.'

'Yes,' I said gravely; 'I am afraid she is. I wish you could persuade
her to stay a little longer.'

I have no influence over her,' he said, a little sadly.

'But you once had,' I said softly.

'Do you know about us, Mrs. Stanton?' and there was a slight eagerness
in his tone. 'How I wish you could help me now! All these years,
though I have steadfastly put it in the background, her face--in fact,
her _self_--has been haunting me. There has only been one woman in the
world for me; and now, when I find her so changed, I thought that
perhaps she might--even though I am no longer young--be willing to come
to me. Her parting words years ago were, "It is not you that I
dislike, but your views; and those I cannot stand." Now she loves
those very things that were so distasteful to her, and yet she will not
listen to me. I can only conclude her affection for me died out long
ago, and is a thing of the past.'

'No, no,' I cried; 'it is not so. I believe you have always been as
much in her thoughts as she has been in yours. I cannot quite
understand her now. She seems as if she is afraid of letting you see
what is in her heart. I should persevere, if I were you, and make her
listen to you.'

I could say no more, for the door opened and Miss Rayner came in. I
saw from the determined set of her lips, and the distant, frosty tones
in which she spoke to him, that