consciousness that a fellow-being
was listening to her with patient pity, prepared her soul for that
stronger leap by which faith grasps the idea of the Divine sympathy. When
Mr. Tryan spoke words of consolation and encouragement, she could now
believe the message of mercy; the water-floods that had threatened to
overwhelm her rolled back again, and life once more spread its
heaven-covered space before her. She had been unable to pray alone; but
now his prayer bore her own soul along with it, as the broad tongue of
flame carries upwards in its vigorous leap the little flickering fire
that could hardly keep alight by itself.

But Mr. Tryan was anxious that Janet should not linger out at this late
hour. When he saw that she was calmed, he said, 'I will walk home with
you now; we can talk on the way.' But Janet's mind was now sufficiently
at liberty for her to notice the signs of feverish weariness in his
appearance, and she would not hear of causing him any further fatigue.

'No, no,' she said, earnestly, 'you will pain me very much--indeed you
will, by going out again to-night on my account. There is no real reason
why I should not go alone.' And when he persisted, fearing that for her
to be seen out so late alone might excite remark, she said imploringly,
with a half sob in her voice, 'What should I--what would others like me
do, if you went from us? _Why_ will you not think more of that, and take
care of yourself?'

He had often had that appeal made to him before, but tonight--from
Janet's lips--it seemed to have a new force for him, and he gave way. At
first, indeed, he only did so on condition that she would let Mrs.
Wagstaff go with her; but Janet had determined to walk home alone. She
preferred solitude; she wished not to have her present feelings
distracted by any conversation.

So she went out into the dewy starlight; and as Mr. Tryan turned away
from her, he felt a stronger wish than ever that his fragile life might
last out for him to see Janet's restoration thoroughly established--to
see her no longer fleeing, struggling, clinging up the steep sides of a
precipice whence she might be any moment hurled back into the depths of
despair, but walking firmly on the level ground of habit. He inwardly
resolved that nothing but a peremptory duty should ever take him from
Milby--that he would not cease to watch over her until life forsook him.

Janet walked on quickly till she turned into the fields; then she
slac