ver see a
newspaper, I wonder?'

'It isn't often one meets such a couple; we shall get a good deal of
entertainment out of them, I expect. What an awful existence! Is it
what we shall come to years hence, I wonder? And yet I, for one, am
quite certain that will not be my lot.'

'What?' inquired Elfie, 'the old maid's existence, do you mean, or the
little secluded country cottage?'

'Neither. I have my plans and purposes; and not all Jacob's
machinations and schemings will frustrate them.'

'What are they?' inquired Elfie.

'Ah, well, I had best not say. I mean to see you all thoroughly
comfortable and settled here, and then break them to you. I have
plenty of resources and interests to take up my time, so am in no
hurry.'

'You always were a wonderful one for plans! Let me guess. You are
going to start a magazine, and be the editor of it!'

'No, thank you. Magazines are as plentiful as pins just now; they
appear and disappear like sky-rockets!'

'Is it a way of earning money?'

'No, of spending it; but I am not going to tell you. I generally find
I can carry out my plans successfully, if I don't take too many people
into my confidence!'

Elfie was silent for a few minutes; then she said, with a little sigh,
'I wonder how old Nannie is getting on?'

'What has put her into your head?'

'The verses she gave us. Don't you remember?'

'I'm sure I forget what mine was.'

'"Commit thy way unto the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring
it to pass,"' said Elfie softly.

'Nannie never could stand my independence. I believe she thought we
ought not to have taken this cottage without first having prayer about
it!'

'Agatha did pray about it,' said Elfie very quietly.

'Well, I didn't, and I was the one to find it, and it has turned out
quite a success. I never can understand such narrow views of life as
Agatha takes. Prayer is all very well in church, or in great crises,
but in everyday life I think it is perfectly unnatural and unnecessary!'

Elfie did not answer. She felt too inexperienced to argue the matter
out with Gwen, though she totally disagreed with her.

They reached home, and found Clare and Captain Knox before them.
Afternoon tea was had in the drawing-room, and afterwards, before
evening church, Elfie brought her violin out, and Agatha went to the
piano, whilst the others gathered round and sang some hymns with them.
The evening closed quietly and peacefully; and as Capta