ather overwhelmed by her new estate, sat by her,
Mrs. Comerford talked to Terry.

"It is a long Winter here," she said. "I remember frost and snow in
January when it was dangerous to walk across your own lawn because of
the drifts. If the snow does not come it will be wild and wet. Stella
was brought up in Italy. I should hurry up the marriage, young man,
and take her away. Now that your father is going on so well there is
no reason for delay. Besides, we want to get it out of her head that
she was pursued by some ruffian the night she wandered and fell by the
empty lodge at Athvara."

"Poor little angel," said Terry, "I am only too anxious, Mrs.
Comerford. I shall be the happiest man alive if she will consent."

"Of course she will consent. She is an obedient child," said Mrs.
Comerford, with an entire oblivion of Stella's marked disobedience in
the not very remote past.

"It is adorably unselfish of you to be willing to part with her," said
Terry, his face shining with happiness.

"For the matter of that I shall have my daughter-in-law," said Mrs.
Comerford superbly. "She has never travelled. We shall probably do
some travelling together. You had better resign your commission."

"Oh, must I? I might get a year's leave because of my ... Stella's
health. I am very fond of the Regiment. But of course I should not
put it before her."

"Of course not. I don't mind your sticking to the Regiment, as you
say, for a bit longer. Your father and Stella's father each took their
turn at soldiering. It is as well to be prepared--in case of need.
There might be a bolt out of the blue sky. So much more reason for
being happy while we may."

"You know that Susan Horridge--or Mrs. Baker, but she won't be called
that--identified the dead man I found by the Admiral's tomb as her
husband?"

"Yes, I heard so. A good riddance. I wonder if he was hunting for
Susan and the boy when he met with that accident. He was 'warm' as the
children say, close up against Waterfall Cottage. You are to make
Stella forget that dream of hers of being pursued by some terrible
creature that night."

"I will do my best," said Terry. "A pity some one does not take
Athvara! It is a fine old house all falling to rack and ruin."

"I have heard a rumour that some Order is buying it for a boys' school.
That would be best of all. A crowd of boys about would soon banish the
ghosts. They would delight in the Admiral's tomb. My ow