no more.

CHAPTER XX

Brought Back

'Far, far above thy thought
His wisdom shall appear,
When fully He this work hath wrought,
That caused thy needless fear!'

Three months later. Jasmine Cottage was full of lively voices and
laughter. Clare and Elfie were both at home, the former for a month's
holiday, and the latter till she left it to take up her quarters in the
Hall as bride and mistress. Alick was there, with no cloud upon his
brow, and full of eager anticipation of all that he was going to do
upon the estate in the future; and Agatha and Clare looked on at the
young couple with interest and sympathy. They were gathered together
in the verandah, and Gwen only was absent. Alick presently asked for
her.

'She has gone to London to her publishers. You will be interested to
know, Alick, that it is about your father's manuscripts. Gwen has
finished them at last, and it is to consult about bringing them out,
that she has gone. We expect her back every moment.'

Agatha looked along the road as she spoke, and Alick's eyes followed
her gaze.

'Here she comes; I know her walk!' he exclaimed. 'Rapid, defiant, and
indifferent to all around!'

'You shall not talk of her like that,' remonstrated Elfie, 'and it
isn't true of her.'

'I admire her awfully, only I'm just a little bit afraid of her.'

'I don't believe you're afraid of any one!'

Here Gwen appeared on the scene. She seemed flushed and rather
perturbed.

'Have I got my business done satisfactorily? Yes, I hope I have.
Agatha, I am famishing; have you got anything for me to eat? That's
right. I will go straight into the dining-room now.'

Agatha followed her in.

'You look tired out. Sit down, and I will pour you out a cup of
coffee. I expected you back earlier.'

'I was detained.'

For a few minutes there was silence. Then Gwen leant back in her chair
and regarded Agatha with serious eyes.

'You're a safe old thing. I think I can trust you,' she said. 'First
of all tell me, do you think Clare happy now?'

'I have never known her so happy in her life before,' said Agatha,
wondering at Gwen's tone. 'Of course, I know she has her sad times,
but she is far sweeter and even-tempered than she used to be. Miss
Villars was telling me the other day, she has found her niche exactly.
All the visitors at the Convalescent Home are loud in their praise
other, and I really think her heart is in it.'

'Then it would