ws feeding in the field, but when the evening came, and she
stood for the second time at Number 4 Back Row, her heart beat quickly
with fear. When she thought of her grandfather's kind face her courage
rose a little, but when she thought of what she had to tell him, it fell
so low that she was almost inclined to run away. The door opened, but
this time Mrs Cooper did not leave her outside. She flung open the
door of the sitting-room with her other hand, and said in a loud voice,
"Miss Forrest, sir."

Anna entered, half afraid as to what she should see, for she had made up
her mind that her grandfather was really very ill. To her relief, the
Professor and his shabby little room looked unaltered. He was sitting
in his arm-chair by the window, tired and worn, as she had often found
him before, after one of his long walks, and held out his kind hand to
welcome her as usual.

"Oh my dear Anna," he said, "you've come to see me. That's right. Come
and sit here."

There was a chair close to him, and as she took it, Anna noticed a piece
of half-finished knitting on the table, which she knew belonged to
Delia. "If Delia comes in," she thought to herself, "I _can't_ do it."

"Are you better, grandfather?" she managed to ask, in a very subdued
voice.

"Oh, I'm getting on splendidly!" he answered, "with such a good nurse,
and so much care and attention, I shall soon be better than ever I was
before."

There was no mistaking the expression in his face as he turned it
towards her. Not only welcome and kindness, but love, shone from it
brightly. In the midst of her confusion Anna wondered how it was that
she had never felt so sure of her grandfather's affection before. And
now, perhaps, she was to lose it.

"You can't think how wonderfully kind every one is," he continued. "I
really might almost think myself an important person in Dornton. They
send messages and presents, and are ready to do anything to help me.
Mr Hurst came in just now to tell me that he has arranged to fill my
place as organist for a whole month, so that I may have a rest. They're
very nice, good people in Dornton. That kind Mrs Winn offered to come
and read to me, and then Delia is like another grand-daughter, you
know."

Anna's heart was full as he chatted on. Must she tell him? Might she
not put it off a little?

"And so you went to a picnic yesterday?" he went on, as she sat silently
by him. "Was it very pleasant? Let me see, did t