apology. Nevertheless, the hungry people had to be fed,
smiles had now and then to chase away tears, and in youthful slumber
sorrow was for a time forgotten.

By Saturday life was going on much as usual in the two households. The
Lorrimers were not to leave the Towers for six weeks. There was no
immediate necessity, therefore, for the younger members of the
household to think about moving the pets. Six weeks seemed something
like for ever to them. The anxious consultations of the elders were not
shared by them. Mother had come home, and mother kissed them just as
tenderly as ever at night, and petted them just as much in the morning,
and coddled them just as persistently when there was the least scrap of
anything the matter. Whenever they went away, mother would go with them,
and that, after all, was the main thing. In their secret hearts, they
became rather excited about the move, the packing, and the new home.
Boris, it is true, sometimes woke at night with a start and a hot
remembrance of the clutch the Squire had given his hand when he stood
under the oak tree, and Nell sobbed out piteously once or twice, "Oh,
father's face, oh, father's face;" but father was not with them and
mother was, and the sun rose and set as usual, and the fruit ripened in
great plenty, and the pets were all well, and it was holiday time, and
mother earth was specially tranquilising and kind. By Saturday, Boris,
Kitty, and Nell were to all appearance just as they were before, and
even the elder members of the family behaved, as Jane Macalister
expressed it, "like sensible Christians."

In the Thornton household, too, the first overwhelming shock of Sir
John's approaching marriage had passed by. Nan had stormed and raged,
and flung her arms round nurse's neck, and sobbed herself at last to
sleep on her breast, but Nan's passion was over now, and she was even a
little curious to see what sort of woman Mrs. Bernard Temple was, and
what sort of girl Antonia would be. Hester, whether her heart was heavy
or light, was forced to attend to many household cares, and Annie was
happy once more, for Mrs. Willis had not yet asked her for the ring.
Mrs. Willis had yielded to Hester's strong entreaties to remain at the
Grange until Monday. She was deeply interested in the Lorrimers, and was
most anxious to help Molly in any way in her power; she was also
desirous of seeing Hetty through the difficult ordeal of her first
introduction to her future stepmoth