return?"

"We have always been great friends. I cannot say more. And do you
really give me permission to speak to her? Would you give her to me, in
spite of my weakness and infirmity? How can I ever express my thanks?"

"If Hilary cares for you, I will put no hindrance in your way; but we
must have no more mistakes. I will not allow an engagement until I have
satisfied myself as to her feelings. There is one comfort: she knows
her own mind uncommonly well, as a rule. You can speak to her when you
will..."

Although the conversation lasted for some time longer, the same things
were practically repeated over and over again, and when the two
gentlemen came in to lunch, the girls and Miss Carr all noticed the
unusual radiance of their expressions. The last few weeks had contained
so much trouble and worry, that it was quite inspiriting to see bright
faces again, and to hear genuine laughter take the place of the forced
"ha, ha!" which had done duty for so long. Even Lettice smiled once or
twice in the course of that meal, and Norah's eyes lost their dreamy,
far-away look and twinkled with the old merry expression, while Hilary
nodded gaily across the table in answer to her father's searching look,
and chattered away all unsuspecting of the great event which was so
close at hand.

When Mr Rayner asked her to take her work to the seat overlooking the
lake, in the afternoon, she said, "Won't you come too, Lettice?" and
tripped after him, humming a lively air.

It was a very different Hilary who returned to the hotel two hours
later, and went to join her father on the verandah. Her face was pale
and serious; she looked older and more womanlike; but there was a steady
light of happiness in her eyes which told its own tale.

"Well, Hilary," he asked gravely, "and what is it to be?"

"There is no doubt about that, father! It is to be as he wants--now and
always!"

"I thought as much. But you must realise what you are doing, dear.
When most girls are married they look forward to having a strong man's
arm between them and the world; they expect to be shielded from trouble;
but if you marry Rayner, this will not be your lot. You will have to
watch over him, to spare him fatigue and anxiety, and take the burden on
your own shoulders, for he is a man who will require constant care."

"I know that. It is what I long to do. I should be so happy looking
after him."

"And perhaps--it seems brutal to mention it,