ing it. Enid took leave of the Rector with a
look, a wan little smile which touched him inexpressibly.

"You have part of my secret," it seemed to say. "Help me to bear the
burden; I am weak and need your aid." He vowed to himself that he would
do all that a man could do--all that she might ever ask. But Enid was
quite unconscious of having made that mute appeal.

She lay back in a corner of the carriage, saying she was too tired to
talk. The General left her in peace, but took one of her little hands
and held it tenderly between his own. He could not imagine why it
trembled and fluttered so much, why once it seemed to try to drag itself
away. The poor girl must be quite overdone, he thought to himself; she
was far too kind, too tender-hearted to go about amongst the village
people and witness all their woes; she was not strong enough to do such
work--he must speak to Flossy about it. And, while he was thus thinking,
the carriage turned in at the park gates and presently halted at the
great front-door. The servants came forward to assist the General, who
was a little stiff in his joints now and then; and he, in his turn, gave
an arm to Enid as she alighted. The old butler looked at her curiously
as she entered and stood for a moment, dazed and bewildered, in the
hall. Miss Enid was always pale, but he had never seen her look so white
and scared. She must be ill, he decided, and especially when she shrank
so oddly as he deferentially mentioned his mistress' name.

"My mistress hoped that you would come to her sitting room as soon as
you arrived, ma'am," he said.

She made a strange answer.

"No, no--I cannot--I cannot see her to-night!"

The General was instantly at her side.

"Enid, my dear, what do you mean? Your aunt wants to see you. She won't
be vexed with you--I'll make it all right with her," he added, in a
lower tone. "She has been terribly anxious about you. Come--I will take
you to her room."

"Not just now, uncle--not to-night," said the girl, in a tone of mingled
pain and dread. "I--I can't bear it--I am ill--I must be alone now!"

"My dear child, you must go to bed and rest. I'll explain it all to
Flossy. She will come to see you."

"No, no--I can't see any one! Forgive me, uncle; I hardly know what I am
saying or doing. I shall be better to-morrow. Till then--till then at
least I must be left in peace!"

She broke from his detaining hand with something so like violence, that
the General looked