ll of throbbing hope and fear, a voice full of anxiety, as she
inquired of the astonished servant, 'Louisa, Louisa, how is Aunt
Ursel!' and, without awaiting the reply, she opened the adjoining door.
There sat, with their evening meal on the table, not only Mary Nugent,
but Miss Headworth herself.

Nuttie rushed at her, and there was an incoherency of exclamations, the
first thing that made itself clear to the senses of the traveller
being, 'Ill, my dear? No such thing! Only I had a bad cold, and Mary
here is only too careful of me.'

'But Mark said you had bronchitis.'

'What could have put that into his head? He did not write it, surely?'

'He wrote it to Annaple Ruthven, and she told Blanche.'

'Oh!' and Mary Nugent's tone was rather nettling.

'And then it was such a terrible time since we had heard anything,'
added Nuttie, on the defensive.

'Did not your mother get my letter?' said Miss Headworth. 'I wrote to
her at--what's the name of that place? I hope I addressed it right.'

'Oh, but I was not there. I didn't go with them.'

'Ah, yes, I remember. Then did not she send you?'

'No, I came off this morning. I heard this yesterday evening, and I
determined that nothing should stop me if there was no news by the
post.'

'Dear child! But will your father not be displeased?' said Miss
Headworth.

'He hasn't any right to object,' cried Nuttie, with flashing eyes and a
look that made Miss Nugent anxious; but at the moment there could be
little thought save of welcome to the warm-hearted girl. Louisa was
already brewing fresh tea, and extemporising additions to the meal, and
Nuttie was explaining how she hoped to have arrived a couple of hours
sooner.

'By the bye, I meant to have written to mother for her to have it
to-morrow before leaving Waldicotes. Is there time?'

No, the pillar at hand was cleared at seven, and the regular
post-office could not be reached in time; so they satisfied themselves
with the knowledge that Mrs. Egremont must have had Aunt Ursel's
cheerful letter, and Mary recommended telegraphing to the Canon the
first thing in the morning. Then they gave themselves up to enjoyment.

'At any rate, I'm here,' said Nuttie, 'and I'll make the most of it.'

And her handsome furs were laid aside, and her boots taken off, and she
resigned herself to absolute ease and luxury, while Mary poured out the
tea, and her aunt heaped her plate with eggs and rashers 'such as one
doesn't g