ing with grave courtesy.

If Margaret had been present, she would have wondered at the change in
her uncle's face. The warmth, the genial light of kindness, was clean
gone out of it; it was an older and a sterner man who sat in the great
armchair and looked steadily and quietly at his visitor.

Mrs. Peyton smiled, then frowned; at last she sighed.

"I never meant to hurt you, John," she said, softly. "Thirty years is a
long time to hate a person who--who never hated you."

"I have never hated you, Emily," said Mr. Montfort, not unkindly. "Our
paths have not crossed--"

Mrs. Peyton laughed. "No, they have not crossed. You took care of that.
They have only run alongside each other--with the garden wall between."

"And nothing else?" said John Montfort.

She was silent for a moment. Then, "I never meant to make trouble
between you and Rose!"

"You never did," said Mr. Montfort, tranquilly.

"I know! but--you thought I tried. I did tell you a lie that night, when
I said she would not see you. How could I know that she was going to die
before you came back from the West? I--I wanted to see you myself; that
was no such dreadful sin, was it? I was sorry--sorry, I tell you, when I
heard of her death. Thirty years ago, and I have never been able to
speak to you alone till to-day. I--I had to burn my house down to get a
chance to make my peace with you, John Montfort. No, I don't mean that I
did it on purpose, though I am not sure that it wouldn't--aren't you
going to forgive me, John, after all these years?"

Mr. Montfort rose. He was very pale, but he spoke steadily. "Emily, it
is hardly strange that I do not care to open old wounds. If I have been
unkind, I am sorry for it. I do forgive you, fully and freely. Now, let
the past alone. What can I do for you in the present, and how help you
to provide for the future? I have not been a good neighbor, I confess
it; I will try to prove myself a better one henceforward."

Mrs. Peyton laughed her little mocking laugh. "It will be easier than
you think, John. I am going to Europe, and I don't know whether I shall
ever come back."

"Going to Europe, Emily? Are you strong enough?"

"I am perfectly well!" said Mrs. Peyton, simply. "Doctor Flower has been
telling me for several years that there was nothing really the matter
with me any more, and that I could be well if I wanted. Grace Wolfe made
me feel the same thing. Well, now I do want it. The fire lighted up a
good many