. Mattie had assented to this, and she had been
very grateful to Grace for all the help she had given her. Her boxes
were ready for cording, and her little parting gifts for the servants
laid ready labelled in her drawers, and nothing remained for her busy
hands to do.

It was a cold, cheerless afternoon; a cutting north wind and a gray
cloudy sky made the fireside all the more tempting by comparison; but
Mattie knew there was one duty unfulfilled that she ought to perform.
She had promised to call and say good-bye to an old acquaintance of
hers who lived at Rock Building.

Mrs. Chamberlain was not a favorite with most people: she was an
invalid of somewhat uncertain temper, and most of her friends felt her
society an infliction on their patience. Mattie, who was very
good-natured, had often done kindly little offices for her, sitting
with her for an hour or two at a time, and teaching her some new
stitch, to beguile her tedious and often painful days.

Mrs. Chamberlain would feel herself aggrieved if Mattie disappointed
her. And she never had stayed at home for the weather; only she was
lazy,--tired, perhaps, from her packing,--and reluctant to move.

Sir Harry was in the study, she knew: she had heard his voice some
time ago. He often turned in there of his own accord or perhaps Archie
had waylaid him and brought him in, for they were excellent friends
now; Grace was there, of course, but Mattie had hesitated to join
them: none of them wanted her, she said bitterly to herself.

A dim hope that Grace might come in search of her, or that even Sir
Henry might saunter in by and by and ask for a cup of tea in his old
way, had kept Mattie in her place; but now it was getting a little
late, and perhaps after all Grace would ring, and have the tea in
there, as she had done once before: and it was no use waiting. And so,
when Mattie reached this point, she hurried upstairs and put on her
hat and thick jacket, and then, after a moment's hesitation, opened
the study door.

It was just the scene she pictured. Sir Harry was in the big chair in
front of the blazing fire, and Grace in her low wicker seat, facing
him, with a Chinese screen in her hand. Archie was standing on the
rug, with his elbow against the narrow wooden mantelpiece, and all
three were talking merrily. Sir Harry stopped in the middle of a
laugh, as Mattie entered, and shook hands with her a little gravely.

"How comfortable you all look!" faltered Mattie.