s were more eloquent than his words, as usual. "How lovely you are
looking, Nan! I do believe you grow prettier every day. And are you
glad to see me?--half or a quarter as glad as I am to see you?"

"I was thinking of you," she returned, softly. "I was wondering what
you were doing, and picturing you at Longmead; and then the door
opened, and there you were, half hidden by Harry; and I thought I was
dreaming."

"Well, that was transmission of thought, don't you see?--animal
magnetism, and all that sort of thing. You thought of me because I was
thinking of you; but you did not know that only the door divided us.
Oh, Nan! isn't it awfully jolly to be together again?"

"Yes; but I don't understand it yet," she replied. "Have you come
without your father's permission, Dick? Are you sure he will not be
very angry?"

"Oh, no; the pater is all right. Sir Harry--what a brick that fellow
is!--has talked him over, and he has given his consent to our
engagement. Look here, Nan! what you have got to do is to pack up your
things, and I am to take you down to-morrow. This is a note from
mother, and you will see what she says." And Nan's gloved hand closed
eagerly upon the precious missive.

The letter could not be read just then. Nan sent Dick away after that,
though he would willingly have remained in his corner during the
remainder of the evening. He went off grumbling, to be civil to his
hostess, and Nan remained behind trying to calm herself. It was "all
right," Dick had told her. She was to go down with him the next day to
dear Longmead. Were their troubles really over? Well, she would hear
all about it to-morrow. She must wait patiently until then.

Nan did not long remain alone. Archie, who had watched this little
scene from the bay-window, suddenly took his opportunity and crossed
the room.

Nan looked up at him with a happy smile.

"You have had a surprise this evening, have you not, Miss Challoner?
Sir Harry has just been telling me all about it. You will permit me
now to offer my congratulations?"

"Most certainly, Mr. Drummond."

"I am so glad, for both your sakes, that things should be so
comfortably settled," he went on, placing himself beside her,--a
movement that mightily displeased Dick, who had conceived a dislike to
the handsome parson from the first. "A parent's opposition is always a
serious drawback in such cases; but Sir Harry tells me that Mr. Mayne
has given his full consent."

"I believe so,"