the interruption, asking whether she was ready to
accompany him. Then would she who was thus addressed arise, and wrap an
ample robe about her, and place her hand with solemn sweetness in that
of the Great Captain, and the two would pass out together into the
starlit night, and Miss Chinfeather would be seen of mortal eyes
nevermore.

Such was the picture that had haunted my brain for two days and as many
nights, while I wandered forlorn through house and playground, or lay
awake on my little bed. I had said farewell to one pupil after another
till all were gone, and the riddle which I had been putting to myself
continually for the last forty-eight hours had now been solved for me by
Mrs. Whitehead, and I had been told that I too was going home.

"To the care of Lady Chillington, Deepley Walls, Midlandshire." The
words repeated themselves again and again in my brain, and became a
greater puzzle with every repetition. I had never to my knowledge heard
of either the person or the place. I knew nothing of one or the other. I
only knew that my heart thrilled strangely at the mention of the word
_Home_; that unbidden tears started to my eyes at the thought that
perhaps--only perhaps--in that as yet unknown place there might be
someone who would love me just a little. "Father--Mother." I spoke the
words, but they sounded unreal to me, and as if uttered by another. I
spoke them again, holding out my arms and crying aloud. All my heart
seemed to go out in the cry, but only the hollow winds answered me as
they piped mournfully through the yellowing leaves, a throng of which
went rustling down the walk as though stirred by the footsteps of a
ghost. Then my eyes grew blind with tears and I wept silently for a time
as if my heart would break.

But tears were a forbidden luxury at Park Hill, and when, a little later
on, I heard Chirper calling me by name, I made haste to dry my eyes and
compose my features. She scanned me narrowly as I ran up to her. "You
dear, soft-hearted little thing!" she said. And with that she stooped
suddenly and gave me a hearty kiss, that might have been heard a dozen
yards away. I was about to fling my arms round her neck, but she stopped
me, saying, "That will do, dear. Mrs. Whitehead is waiting for us at the
door."

Mrs. Whitehead was watching us through the glass door which led into the
playground. "The coach will be here in half-an-hour, Miss Hope," she
said; "so that you have not much time for yo