tle awkward in showing it."

"Oh, no; I did not think him awkward at all."

"I must say you behaved beautifully, Nan, never seeming as though you
remembered that there had been anything amiss, but just taking
everything as he meant it. Of course I knew how you would act: I was
not afraid that I should be disappointed."

"Of course I could not do otherwise."

"And Dick, too, behaved so well, keeping in the background just to
give his father full freedom. I must say I was pleased with him, too,
for most young men are so thoughtless; but then his behavior to his
father has been perfect throughout."

"I knew it would be," whispered Nan.

"I am sure it made my heart ache to see him. Sometimes he would come
in whistling and pretending to be his old self, so light-hearted and
cheerful; and all the time he was fretting himself to death, as I told
Richard. Richard was terribly trying sometimes,--you know his
way,--but the boy bore it so well. It was not till the last, when they
had that walk, and Dick was goaded into positive anger, that he ever
lost his temper in the least. I will say this, Nan, that though my
Dick may not be much to look at, he has the sweetest temper and the
kindest heart." And so the simple woman ran on, and Nan listened, well
pleased.

When Mr. Mayne came up to his dressing-room that evening, his wife
stole in after him, and laid her hands on his shoulder as he stood
thoughtfully contemplating the fire.

"Well, Richard, won't you own she is lovely now?"

"Humph! yes; I suppose people would call her pretty," he returned, in
his grudging way. "But I tell you what, Bessie," suddenly kindling
into animation, "she is better than handsome; she is out and out good,
and she will make a man of Dick."

"God bless him, and her too!" whispered the mother, as she withdrew
softly, but not before she caught the sound of an "Amen" uttered
distinctly in her husband's voice.

Nan made Dick take her to all their old haunts the next morning; but
first of all they went to Glen Cottage. Nan ran through all the rooms
with almost a child's glee: nothing could exceed her delight when Dick
showed her the drawing-room, with the new conservatory opening out of
it.

"It always was a pretty room," she said, glancing round her; "but the
conservatory and the new furniture have quite transformed it. How
charmed mother and the girls will be! The whole house looks better
than when we were in it."

"Nonsense!" returned Dick,