l the time," he said simply. "Bessie,
if you only knew what it is to me to be sure of your sympathy. My little
blessing, I think you were born to be a peacemaker. It was you who
softened my mother's heart; before you came in she was so hard, and said
such bitter things, and then I lost my temper, and----"

"Do not go back to that," she said quietly. "Your mother was taken by
surprise. She said herself that she spoke hastily. Let us give her time.
She cannot alter her nature all at once. You have been very patient a
long time, Richard; be patient still for my sake."

"There is nothing I would not do for your sake," he replied; and Bessie
was pleased to see him smile.

After all, it was not difficult to comfort him; the cloud soon passed
away from his face, and in a little while they were talking as happily
together as though no unkind words had been said.

They had a quiet, peaceful Sunday together, and then Richard went back
to Oatlands, on the understanding that he was to return on Wednesday
night and take Bessie down to Cliffe the next day.

Bessie was not sorry to be left alone for two days to realize her own
happiness; but, all the same, she was glad to welcome him back again on
Wednesday, though she was secretly amused when Richard declared those
two days of absence had been intolerably long; still she liked to hear
him say it.

It was a happy evening to Bessie when she saw Richard for the first time
in her own dear home, making one of the family circle, and looking as
though he had been there for years. How kindly they had all greeted him!
She saw by her mother's expression how pleased and excited she was. She
took the young man under her motherly wing at once, and petted and made
much of him; and it was easy to see how proud her father was of his
son-in-law elect. Bessie thought she had never seen Richard to such
advantage before. There was no awkwardness in his manner; he was alert,
cheerful, and at his ease, ready to talk to Christine or to the younger
girls, and full of delicate little attentions to his _fiancee_.

"A fine, manly fellow!" observed Dr. Lambert, as he wished his daughter
good-night. "You have won a prize, my girl; I am perfectly satisfied
with my future son-in-law," and Bessie blushed and smiled over her
father's encomium.

But the most comfortable moment was when she had her mother to herself,
for Mrs. Lambert had stolen upstairs after Bessie.

"Oh, mother, this is what I wanted," she