of tears.

Recovering himself slowly, he went on along the path, every step of
which was haunted by the form of Lily. He reached the garden gate of
Grasmere, lifted the latch, and entered. As he did so, a man, touching
his hat, rushed beside, and advanced before him,--the village postman.
Kenelm drew back, allowing the man to pass to the door, and as he thus
drew back, he caught a side view of lighted windows looking on the
lawn,--the windows of the pleasant drawing-room in which he had first
heard Lily speak of her guardian.

The postman left his letters, and regained the garden gate, while
Kenelm still stood wistfully gazing on those lighted windows. He had,
meanwhile, advanced along the whitened sward to the light, saying to
himself, "Let me just see her and her happiness, and then I will knock
boldly at the door, and say, 'Good-evening, Mrs. Melville.'"

So Kenelm stole across the lawn, and, stationing himself at the angle of
the wall, looked into the window.

Melville, in dressing-robe and slippers, was seated alone by the
fireside. His dog was lazily stretched on the hearth rug. One by one the
features of the room, as the scene of his vanished happiness, grew out
from its stillness; the delicately tinted walls, the dwarf bookcase,
with its feminine ornaments on the upper shelf; the piano standing in
the same place. Lily's own small low chair; that was not in its old
place, but thrust into a remote angle, as if it had passed into disuse.
Melville was reading a letter, no doubt one of those which the postman
had left. Surely the contents were pleasant, for his fair face, always
frankly expressive of emotion, brightened wonderfully as he read on.
Then he rose with a quick, brisk movement, and pulled the bell hastily.

A neat maid-servant entered,--a strange face to Kenelm. Melville gave
her some brief message. "He has had joyous news," thought Kenelm. "He
has sent for his wife that she may share his joy." Presently the door
opened, and entered not Lily, but Mrs. Cameron.

She looked changed. Her natural quietude of mien and movement the same,
indeed, but with more languor in it. Her hair had become gray. Melville
was standing by the table as she approached him. He put the letter into
her hands with a gay, proud smile, and looked over her shoulder while
she read it, pointing with his finger as to some lines that should more
emphatically claim her attention.

When she had finished her face reflected his smile.