nd its Challoners
until the end of time.

CHAPTER XXXVIII.

ABOUT NOTHING PARTICULAR.

It was as well that Grace had had this talk with her brother; for,
during the two days that remained of his brief visit, they were not
alone together until the last half-hour before his departure. The
young vicar had to return for his Sunday duties; but Mattie remained
behind for another week. Archie, indeed, had once sought her in his
old fashion,--running up to the school-room for a chat; but Susie had
been there all the time. In former days, Archie would have sent her
away with blunt peremptoriness; but now he seemed well content to have
her there. He had no secrets to discuss, as he sat in his old place in
the window-seat; yet Grace was too happy to see him there to find
fault with his discourse.

But on the morning of his departure she had come down early to pour
out his coffee. He had bidden his mother good-bye in her room; but he
knew that, in spite of the earliness of the hour, Grace would be in
her place to minister to his wants.

"Well, Grace," he said, entering with his travelling-plaid over his
arm, "so it is to be good-bye until Christmas."

"Yes," she returned, looking at him with a sort of wistfulness; "but
the time will pass quickly now. It is so nice to think that we shall
begin our new year together." And, as her brother checked an
involuntary sigh, she went on eagerly: "If you knew how happy I am
about it! It will be something to wake every morning and know you are
not a hundred miles off,--that when I come down to breakfast I shall
find you there,--that I shall be able to talk to you as much as I
like; and as for work, why, it will be play to me to work for you,
Archie!"

"Of course I know that," rather mischievously.

"I would work for you like a servant: would I not, dear? I mean to be
ever so good to you. Your friends shall be my friends; your likes and
dislikes shall be mine too."

"Why, Gracie," he said, humoring her, "this is more than a wife would
do for me!"

"Ah! but it is not too much to ask from a sister," she returned,
earnestly. "When you bring home your wife, Archie, I mean to be good
to her too. I shall have to leave you then, and come back here; but if
you are happy I shall not be miserable." But he interrupted her a
little impatiently.

"What put such nonsense into your head? I shall never marry. We shall
be a pattern of old-bachelor brother and maiden sister." And then he