ing to see Miss Fairfax?' she asked presently.

'No, I don't think I shall go into the house at all; but I want you to
take a note to Mrs. Fairfax and bring me back an answer.'

Betty coloured up with pleasure. 'I shall like to do that,' she said;
'it's such a nice house inside, and you should see the flowers! I
think I could be quite happy if I were Mrs. Fairfax, couldn't you?'

She chattered on, and when at last the gates were reached, Major St.
Clair entrusted her with the important letter.

'Give it to Mrs. Fairfax yourself, Betty, and tell her I would like to
see her very much.'

Betty nodded, and clasped the letter tightly in one little hand, Prince
followed her closely up the drive. The hall-door stood open, and for a
moment the child hesitated; then the old butler crossed the hall, and
she called out eagerly,--

'Please, can I come in and see Mrs. Fairfax?'

The man looked surprised. 'I don't think she will see you,' he said,
smiling; 'Mrs. Fairfax sees no visitors.'

'But I'm not a visitor,' said the little girl; 'I'm only Betty, and
I've got a letter to give her.'

'I will go and see.'

He disappeared, but returned a minute after.

'Come in, missy--this way.'

He led the child into the drawing-room, where Mrs. Fairfax was
presiding at the afternoon tea-table. Nesta was not there, and Grace
was just leaving the room.

A smile lightened Mrs. Fairfax's grave face at the sight of Betty.

'All alone?' she asked, bending down to kiss her.

'I've come to bring you a letter,' said Betty, dimpling over with
pleasure and importance.

Mrs. Fairfax made her sit down in a little cushioned chair, and took
the note in her hand. As she read it, she knitted her brows, and her
lips took their sternest curve; then rising she went to the farther end
of the room, and stood looking out of the low French window, her back
turned to Betty, and her hands clenched convulsively by her side.

Nesta was right in surmising what a torrent of painful memories would
be aroused by Major St. Clair's advent in their neighbourhood.

If the letter had come a few weeks before, there would have been only
one answer; but Mrs. Fairfax had been learning lately from the great
Master Himself, and her heart was softened and subdued. Still it was a
hard struggle, and pride fought for predominance. At length she turned
round, and went to her writing-desk; and then Betty crept up softly to
her.

'Major St. Clair asked me to ask