ll.
The sun had set, but there was still a red glow in the sky, and against
this glow he perceived the tall figure of Anthony standing quite still.
When he was about a hundred yards away the figure suddenly collapsed,
as a man does if he is shot. The Reverend Septimus put his hand to his
heart and caught his breath.

"I know what that means," he said. "He was watching the window, and they
have just pulled down the blind. I suppose he must be fond of her and
it--affects him. Oh! if I were younger I think this would kill me, but,
thank God! as one draws near the end of the road the feet harden; one
does not feel the thorns so much. 'The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken
away, bl--bl--yes, I _will_ say it--blessed be the Name of the Lord.' I
should remember that she is so much better where she is; that this is
a very hard world; indeed, sometimes I think it is not a world, but a
hell. Oh! Barbara, my sweet Barbara!" and he struggled forward blindly
beating at the rough wind with his hands as though it were a visible
foe, and so at last came to the crest of the hill where Anthony Arnott
lay prone upon his face.

So sure was Septimus of the cause of his collapse that he did not even
trouble to look at the Rectory windows in the hollow near the church two
hundred yards or so away. He only looked at Anthony, saying:

"Poor lad, poor lad! I wonder how I shall get him home; I must fetch
some help."

As he spoke, Anthony sat up and said, "You see, you see!"

"See what?"

"The blind; _it is quite up_. When I got here it was half down, then
someone pulled it up. That's what finished me. I felt as though I had
been hit on the head with a stick."

The Reverend Septimus stared, then suddenly sank to his knees and
returned thanks in his simple fashion.

"Don't let us be too certain, Anthony," he exclaimed at length. "There
may be a mistake, or perhaps this is only a respite which will prolong
the suspense. Often such things happen to torment us; I mean that they
are God's way of trying and purifying our poor sinful hearts."

CHAPTER II

THE NEW YEAR FEAST

Barbara did not die. On the contrary, Barbara got quite well again, but
her recovery was so slow that Anthony only saw her once before he was
obliged to return to college. This was on New Year's Day, when Mr.
Walrond asked him to dinner to meet Barbara, who was coming down for the
first time. Needless to say he went, taking with him a large bunch
of violets which h