ude with what
grace she could, and tried to make the best of the situation.

"We can all go back together," she said soothingly, "and then I must
go and find Gertrude and tell her how unfortunate we have been."

"You could cycle," suggested Audrey, relenting a little.

Denys shook her head, "Gertrude has my bicycle," she said; "something
has happened to hers. Oh, I can easily walk."

"Mine has gone wrong too," said Audrey. "Look here, mother, surely I
am capable of taking you home. I've looked after you all these years
without help! If Denys has got to walk she had far better go straight
on."

"Whatever you like," said Mrs. Henchman wearily. "I shall be truly
thankful to be safe back in my own bedroom. I shall have a heart
attack, I know! Go on, boy, at once!"

Denys stood and watched them out of sight, the donkey going quite
amiably now, and then she turned to her own path. How tiresome it was!
and oh, how disagreeable to have got into a bother with those she so
much wished to please, through no fault of her own.

But Charlie was coming down that evening, and when he came everything
would be all right!

She trudged on cheerily after that, trying to plan out the time
between now and half-past seven, when she was to meet Charlie at the
station, and they were to go together to hear Stainer's Crucifixion
sung at All Saints'.

It was wonderfully pretty in the Landslip, though the trees were only
just showing a green tinge in the sunlight, but she hurried on as fast
as she could, and reached the cottage at last.

It was a pretty little ivy-clad cottage, with a bench outside and a
table set invitingly for visitors, but the bench was unoccupied, and
she looked about in vain for any sign of Gertrude or Cecil.

Upon inquiry she found that she was the first visitor that afternoon.
People had hardly come down yet, the woman explained; they generally
came into Whitecliff this evening, Thursday, and this was a favourite
Good Friday walk.

Denys sat down to wait and had not been seated long, before the little
voice that was so like Jerry's, fell upon her ear.

"Hullo!" said little Harry, peeping round the door at her.

"How did you come here?" asked Denys, but before she could get a
reply, a sound of terrible coughing came from within, and a voice
said, "Harry! Harry! you've left the door open!"

Harry darted back, but returned very quickly. He seemed to like
talking to Denys, but while she talked, Denys was watchi