ng flown off in anger when she revolted at my dictation. One
word of forgiveness would be solace in a life of deserved loneliness and
disappointment.'

Trembling with gladness, Violet could hardly refrain from rousing Arthur
to hear the good news! She hastily wrote the word 'Try!' twisted it into
a note, and sent it down in case Mr. Fotheringham should still be in the
house. The missive returned not, and she sat down to enjoy her gladness
as a Sunday morning's gift.

For Violet, though weak, anxious, and overworked, was capable of
receiving and being cheered by each sunbeam that shone on herself or on
her loved ones. Perhaps it was the reward of her resignation and trust,
that even the participation (as it might almost be called) of her
husband's suffering, and the constantly hearing his despondence, could
not deprive her of her hopefulness. Ever since the first two days she
had been buoyed up by a persuasion of his recovery, which found food in
each token of improvement; and, above all, there was something in Arthur
that relieved the secret burden that had so long oppressed her.

She was free to receive solace and rejoice in the joy of others; and
when Theodora met her in the morning, eye and lip were beaming with a
suppressed smile of congratulation, that hardly suited with the thin,
white face.

'Arthur's comfortable night has done you both good,' said Theodora.
'Percy is a better nurse than I.'

'Oh, yes! it is all Percy's doing!' said Violet, there checking herself;
but laughing and blushing, so that for a moment she looked quite
girlishly pretty.

No more was heard of Mr. Fotheringham till Johnnie came home from
the afternoon's service, and reported that the owl-man was in the
drawing-room with Aunt Theodora.

At church Johnnie had seen his papa's good-natured friend in the aisle,
and with his hand on the door of the seat and his engaging face lifted
up, had invited him in.

Innocent Johnnie! he little knew what tumultuous thoughts were set
whirling through his aunt's mind. The last time Percy had joined her
at church, the whole time of the service had been spent in the conflict
between pride and affection. Now there was shame for this fresh swarm of
long-forgotten sins, and as the recollection saddened her voice in
the confession, foremost was the sense of sacrilege in having there
cherished them, and turned her prayer into sin. No wonder she had been
for a time yielded up to her pride and self-will!