Nesta would have yielded then and there; but a most
inopportune childish voice broke in close by.

'You've made her cry! You've made my Miss Fairfax cry!' And with a
little rush Betty flew to comfort her friend.

In an instant Nesta was standing erect again.

'It is nothing, darling; we have been talking over old times.
Good-bye, Major St. Clair.'

She turned down a path at the side of the church, whilst Major St.
Clair gazed after her in bewilderment and vexation.

'Oh!' he said, shaking his head at Betty as they retraced their way
homewards, 'you're like a little boy I once knew, who would bring me a
delicious plate of cherries. "Would you like to have some, major?
Look at them; aren't they lovely?" And then, as I stretched out my
hand, he would snatch them back with malicious glee, and gobble them up
in my sight.'

'He was a very rude little boy,' said Betty, a little offended, 'and I
don't think I'm a bit like him, for I haven't brought you anything this
afternoon.'

Very restless and uneasy was Major St. Clair all that evening; Captain
Stuart more than once took him to task for his moodiness and absence of
mind, but was quite unsuccessful in eliciting a satisfactory
explanation.

The next day they went off fishing together, but about four o'clock
Major St. Clair left his friend and sauntered back to the house.
Finding Betty and Prince playing together outside, he called her to
him, and, lying full length on the grass, led her on to talk about
Nesta. Betty innocently fell in with his wish; she gave him a graphic
description of her day at Holly Grange, and then went back to the day
when she first met Mrs. Fairfax in the wood.

'She's like a queen,' said the eager child; 'her face is so stern and
proud, but she's very sad! Every grown-up person seems sad about here!
I like Mrs. Fairfax very much; she gave me Prince.'

Major St. Clair listened, and asked questions, and then suddenly
started to his feet.

'Come for a walk with me,' he said; 'wait till I have written a letter,
and then we will start.'

'To church again?' inquired Betty.

'No, not to church; to Holly Grange.'

'It's miles and miles,' said Betty dubiously; 'I went in a pony
carriage, but if you go by the wood it is shorter.'

'Oh, we shall manage it very well, and if you are tired I will carry
you.'

Major St. Clair's tone was quite cheerful, and Betty set off with him,
delighted at being chosen as his companion.

'Are you go