ho could lift her out of
miry ways; and Mrs. Beaton and her son took compassion upon the
repentant woman, and let her come to live with them. Sometimes they made
little excursions into the suburbs, which did them all good. Mrs. Penn
became a really useful member of the household, and waited on Mrs.
Beaton with careful attention. Andrew, who had been troubled about his
mother's increasing feebleness, was no longer afraid to see her go out
of doors. Mrs. Penn was by her side, a trustworthy companion nowadays,
with a stout arm which could be safely leant upon.

July was gloriously bright, and one day the two women--Mrs. Beaton and
Mrs. Penn--had prepared themselves for a trip to Richmond, when Miss
Kilner suddenly presented herself.

"One longs to escape from London to-day," she said. "So you are going to
Richmond? I have a school-friend who lives down by the river, and I told
Miss Saxon that I should go to see her."

"Will you come with us?" Mrs. Beaton asked, brightening.

"Yes," Elsie answered; and the three went off together.

Down by the river there are old houses set deep in leafy gardens;
creepers hang drowsily in the delicious air; long aisles open upon
terraces bright with flowers. It was in an earthly paradise of this kind
that Elsie loitered away a golden afternoon; and then, when the clocks
were striking six, she went off to rejoin her companions.

She found them at the appointed meeting-place, and they all walked up
from the river-side through a lane opening into the highway of the town.
Mrs. Beaton, a little weary, moved slowly, leaning on Mrs. Penn. Elsie,
a few steps in the rear, gave herself up to one of those reveries which
so often come to us at the close of a summer day. The lights were golden
on the river. Some people were singing in a boat, and the voices floated
sweetly over the water; it was pleasant melody, but there was a faint
tone of sadness in the strain.

An open carriage and pair waited under the overhanging trees in the
lane. Leaning back lazily on the cushions was a lady, fair and still
young, with a beautiful boy by her side. The child was in high spirits;
his laugh rang out clear and fresh as Elsie drew near. He stood up in
the carriage in his pretty sailor's suit, and the low sunlight shone
into his blooming face and blue eyes. At the sight of him Mrs. Penn
stopped short and uttered a little cry.

"It's Jamie!" she exclaimed. "It's really Jamie!"

The boy knew her voice; the la