kful to be spared
questioning and reproach, so he made his way upstairs to his room, while
Betty entered the study, where Dr and Mrs Trevor were seated.

"Here we are, safe and sound! It has been adventurous, but all's well
that ends well. Have you been anxious, mother dear? I do hope not."

She bent to kiss her mother with an unwonted tenderness, which brought a
flush of pleasure into the thin cheek.

"How sweet that child looks to-night! Did you notice?" she said to her
husband when they were once more alone. "And she was so gentle and
considerate. It's such a pleasure to see her like that, for she is
sometimes so difficult."

Dr Trevor smiled.

"She is mellowing, dear, she is mellowing! I told you it would come.
The child is turning into a woman--and a bonnie woman she will be too.
Dear little Betty!"

And in the shelter of her attic bedroom the child woman was holding a
lighted candle before the looking-glass, and staring half abashed into
an oval face with dilated eyes, and dark hair twisted by the damp into a
cloud of tiny ringlets.

"Did he--did he think me--nice?" she was asking of herself.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN.

THE SISTERS.

Upon the first quiet opportunity Betty confided the history of her walk
to her mother, who listened with the deepest interest and sympathy.

"It was a great opportunity, dear, and you made the most of it. I am
proud of my daughter," she said. "I will join with you in praying that
the poor fellow may be kept true to his pledge. It's not the first step
which costs in these struggles, whatever the proverb may say; the
hardest part of the fight comes later on, when the first excitement is
over, and progress seems so pitifully slow. So don't let yourself grow
weary in well-doing, dear Betty. Your poor friend will need your
prayers more and more, not less and less."

"Oh no, I shall never grow tired," said Betty confidently. Then her
face clouded, and she sighed. "Mother, do you suppose I shall ever--see
him again?"

"It is very unlikely, dear. He is going so far away, and will have no
money to spare for visits home. It must be a large sum which he has to
repay, if the loss of it necessitated such a change in his friend's
household. With everything in his favour it would take a long time to
earn."

"How long, mother?"

"Dear child, what a question! It is impossible to say. It would be
extraordinary, I should think, if he managed it in less than a dozen
y