were a son of my own. And there is Aunt Felicity, as the children used
to call her, who is certainly very fond of me, as I also am of her."

"Not forgetting poor me," said Janet.

"Not forgetting you, dear, whom I love as a daughter."

"And who loves you very sincerely in return."

A few minutes later they drew up at Deepley Walls.

CHAPTER XVII.

DEEPLY WALLS AFTER SEVEN YEARS.

Major Strickland rang the bell, and the door was opened by a servant who
was strange to Janet.

"Be good enough to inform Lady Chillington that Major Strickland and
Miss Hope have just arrived from town, and inquire whether her ladyship
has any commands."

The servant returned presently. "Her ladyship will see Major Strickland.
Miss Hope is to go to the housekeeper's room."

"I will see you again, poverina, after my interview with her ladyship,"
said the Major, as he went off in charge of the footman.

Janet, left alone, threaded her way by the old familiar passages to the
housekeeper's room. Dance was not there, being probably in attendance on
Lady Chillington, and Janet had the room to herself. Her heart was heavy
within her. There was a chill sense of friendlessness, of being alone in
the world upon her. Were these cold walls to be the only home her youth
would ever know? A few slow salt tears welled from her eyes as she sat
brooding over the little wood fire, till presently there came a sound of
footsteps, and the Major's hand was laid caressingly upon her shoulder.

"What, all alone!" he said; "and with nothing better to do than read
fairy tales in the glowing embers! Is there no one in all this big house
to attend to your wants? But Dance will be here presently, I have no
doubt, and the good old soul will do her best to make you comfortable. I
have been to pay my respects to her ladyship, who is in one of her
unamiable moods this evening. I, however, contrived to wring from her a
reluctant consent to your paying Aunt Felicity and me a visit now and
then at Eastbury, and it shall be my business to see that the promise is
duly carried out."

"Then I am to remain at Deepley Walls!" said Janet. "I thought it
probable that my visit might be for a few weeks only, as my first one
was."

"From what Lady Chillington said, I imagine that the present arrangement
is to be a permanent one; but she gave no hint of the mode in which she
intended to make use of your services, and that she will make use of you
in some way, no on