er word to him always
had been yes, instead of no.

In fact, they had not been together five minutes before the whole
life of youth returned to them both,--that indestructible youth which
belongs to warm hearts and buoyant spirits.

Such a merry evening as they had of it! When John, as the wood fire
burned low on the hearth, with some excuse of letters to write in his
library, left them alone together, Walter put on her finger a diamond
ring, saying,--

"There, Gracie! now, when shall it be? You see you've kept me waiting
so long that I can't spare you much time. I have an engagement to
be in Montreal the first of February, and I couldn't think of going
alone. They have merry times there in midwinter; and I'm sure it will
be ever so much nicer for you than keeping house alone here."

Grace said, of course, that it was impossible; but Walter declared
that doing the impossible was precisely in his line, and pushed on his
various advantages with such spirit and energy that, when they parted
for the night, Grace said she would think of it: which promise, at
the breakfast-table next morning, was interpreted by the unblushing
Walter, and reported to John, as a full consent. Before noon that
day, Walter had walked up with John and Grace to take a survey of the
cottage, and had given John indefinite power to engage workmen and
artificers to rearrange and enlarge and beautify it for their return
after the wedding journey. For the rest of the visit, all the three
were busy with pencil and paper, projecting balconies, bow-windows,
pantries, library, and dining-room, till the old cottage so blossomed
out in imagination as to leave only a germ of its former self.

Walter's visit brought back to John a deal of the warmth and freedom
which he had not known since he married. We often live under an
insensible pressure of which we are made aware only by its removal.
John had been so much in the habit lately of watching to please
Lillie, of measuring and checking his words or actions, that he now
bubbled over with a wild, free delight in finding himself alone with
Grace and Walter. He laughed, sang, whistled, skipped upstairs two at
a time, and scarcely dared to say even to himself why he was so happy.
He did not face himself with that question, and went dutifully to
the library at stated times to write to Lillie, and made much of her
little letters.

CHAPTER XIX.

_THE CASTLE OF INDOLENCE_.

If John managed to be happy