one comfort in all this? It is thinking
that now I have a right to speak to your sister.'

'To Elfie?' asked Agatha.

'Yes, I am sure you won't raise an objection, will you? I know I'm not
half good enough for her; but if she'll only listen to me, I feel as if
life will be too good to live.'

And for the next half-hour Agatha listened to a flow of eloquence on
Elfie's perfections, which amused and yet touched her, for it showed
her how deeply devoted the young man was in his love.

Major Lester was not long in leaving the Hall. He announced his
intention of travelling abroad with his son, and before a month was
gone Alick was left alone. The cousins parted with mutual regret.
Roger took the blow to his future prospects bravely and manfully, and
told Alick that he looked forward to see his bride at the Hall very
soon.

And then, one day, without a word to any one, Alick travelled down to
Dane Hall.

Elfie had been having a trying time--a time that tested all her powers
of cheerfulness to carry her through it. Mrs. Dane was confined to her
room with bronchitis, not ill enough to lie still and leave the
responsibility of her household to Elfie, but perpetually questioning
the girl's management, and giving contrary orders to the servants, who
were all in a state of irritation and turbulence. Mr. Dane was
impatient of the slightest hitch in the domestic machinery, and, now
that his wife was too indisposed to hear his complaints, vented all his
ill-humour upon his young cousin.

But Elfie's sunny temper did not forsake her; and if, in the privacy of
her own room, home-sickness and loneliness got the better of her at
times, she always preserved a cheerful front in public, and earnestly
strove, not only to do her duty, but to be happy in doing it, and to
make those around her happy too.

It was a bright, spring afternoon, when, at last relieved from
attendance on the invalid, Elfie took her hat and went out into the
garden to enjoy the fresh air and sunshine. She was singing away to
herself and gathering some jonquils for the dinner-table, when she was
joined by her cousin James.

'Elfrida, I am told that neither of the carriage horses can be taken
out. It is extraordinary that with four horses doing hardly anything
there should be this constant difficulty in getting one of them to
drive.'

'Yes,' said Elfie a little carelessly, 'I have always heard that the
more horses you have the less work you get out