and there was a glad ring in
his tone. Nesta looked up at him bewildered.

'My mother! Have you seen her?'

'Yes; thanks to this little person here with me.'

Betty was kissed, but for once Nesta seemed oblivious of her presence.
The child could not understand it, neither could she understand the
explanation that followed in low, earnest tones. She saw Nesta's eyes
light up with a sudden joy, and then fill with tears; she saw Major St.
Clair bend his head very close to hers, and though she stood silently
by she might just as well have been miles away, for all the notice that
she received. At last with a little sigh she said,--

'I'm rather tired; I think I'll go home with Prince.'

Nesta turned to her at once.

'You poor little mite! Godfrey, will you carry her? I must leave you.
No, don't come with me. I shall see you to-morrow, and I would rather
see my mother alone. She has been so different lately, but I never
dared to hope for this! Good-bye, Betty; you have been our little
benefactor.'

Betty was hoisted on the broad shoulders of the major, and carried home
in silence; he was busy with his own thoughts, and she was tired and
sleepy.

They found Captain Stuart impatiently waiting for dinner.

'Where have you been?' he asked; 'has Betty bewitched you?'

'She has done me a good turn to-day,' responded the major.

Betty dipped her little hand into her uncle's.

'We've been to Holly Grange, Uncle Harry. I think Major St. Clair and
my Miss Fairfax must have quarrelled yesterday, for he made her cry;
but they kissed each other and made it up to-day, and now we're all
friends.'

CHAPTER XIV

A Hero's Death

Captain Stuart's week was prolonged to a fortnight, much to the
children's delight. They were all astonished when they heard that
Major St. Clair was going to marry Betty's Miss Fairfax. Betty herself
was very puzzled about it, for she was still unconscious of how large a
part she had played in the little drama; and only wondered sometimes
that Nesta seemed to care so little for the organ now, and was so often
occupied in walking or driving with the major. This, perhaps, made her
enjoy her visits to Mr. Russell's studio the more; and when one day he
put the finishing touch to the bit of sculpture, she looked rather
wistfully at him.

'And mustn't I come here any more now?'

'Come as often as you like,' was the hearty reply; 'I like you chatting
away to me whilst I work.'

'I'