t
appear.

Lois had scarcely seen him since he arrived, though this was not because
of his devotion to his mother. He spent most of his time lounging about
the post-office, and swearing that Ashurst was the dullest, deadest place
on the face of the earth. He had not listened to Lois's self-reproaches,
and insisted that blame must not even be mentioned. He was quite in
earnest, but strangely awkward. Lois, weighed down by the consciousness
of her promise, felt it was her fault, yet dared not try to put him at
his ease, and fled, at the sound of his step, to her refuge in the
garret. She did not feel that her promise to Mrs. Forsythe meant that she
must give opportunity as well as consent. But Dick did not force his
presence upon her, and he was very uncomfortable and _distrait_ when at
the rectory.

She need not have feared his coming again that evening. He was in the
library of his mother's house, covering many pages of heavy crested
note-paper with his big, boyish writing. Strangely enough, however, for
a young gentleman in love with Miss Lois Howe, he was addressing in terms
of ardent admiration some one called "Lizzie."

But in the gladness of meeting Helen, Lois almost forgot him. Her arms
around her cousin's neck, and Helen's lips pressed against her wet cheek,
there was nothing left to wish for, except the recovery of the two sick
people.

"Oh, Helen! Helen! Helen!" she cried hysterically, while Dr. Howe,
flourishing his silk handkerchief, patted them both without
discrimination, and said, "There, my dear, there, there."

CHAPTER XXII.

After Helen had gone, John Ward went back to the parsonage, dazed and
stupefied by the exhaustion of the moral conflict which for nearly a
month had strained every fibre of his soul.

The house seemed dark and empty. His face brightened a moment, as he sat
wearily down at his writing-table and saw the prairie rose in the slender
vase. He leaned his head on his hand, and drew the flower towards him,
touching it with gentle fingers, as though he caressed the bloom of
Helen's cheek. Then he pushed it in front of her picture which stood
always on the same table, and thought vaguely that he would leave it
there until she put a fresh one in its place.

And so his thoughts came heavily back to the old grief and anxiety. He
went over all the arguments he had used, and saw new points and reasons
which he had neglected to give, and he even drew his pen and paper
towards hi