isits put me into such a nervous state. It is so bad for father,
too. He is not as young as he used to be, and since mother's death there
has been a great change in him. Last time Joe came he put himself out
terribly, and was for taking the stick to him. I was all in a tremble--I
was indeed, Miss Ross--for Joe had been drinking, and father's a
powerful man, and there might have been mischief.'

'I think your husband must be made to understand that he is to leave you
alone.'

'Oh, you don't know what men are, Miss Ross. They are over-fond of their
own way. Joe does not find things comfortable without me, and then he is
always so greedy for money. The ways of Providence are very dark and
mysterious. When I married Joe I expected as much happiness as other
women. He was so pleasant-spoken, had such a way with him, that even
father and mother were deceived in him; he never took anything but his
tankard of home-brewed ale at our place, and he was so trim and so well
set up that all the girls were envying me. But the day I wore my gray
silk dress to go with him to church was the most unfortunate day of my
life. Mother would far better have laid me in my shroud,' finished Mrs.
Baxter, with a homely tragedy that was impressive enough in its way.

'Oh, you must not say that,' returned Audrey hastily. 'Life will not
always be so hard, I hope;' and then she shook hands with the poor
woman.

Audrey enjoyed her walk back. It was a delicious evening, and the birds
were singing from every brake and hedgerow. Once or twice she heard the
harsh call of the corncrake mingled with the flute-like notes of the
thrush; a lark was carolling high up in the blue sky--by and by she
heard him descend. Audrey walked swiftly down the long grass lanes, and,
as she neared Rutherford she could see a dim man's figure in the
distance. Of course it was Michael coming to meet her, attended by his
faithful Booty. Audrey smiled and quickened her pace. She was quite used
to these small attentions, this brotherly surveillance on Michael's
part--she was never surprised to find him at some unexpected point
waiting patiently for her.

'Am I late?' she asked hastily, as he rose from the stile and slipped
his book in his pocket. 'I have had such a nice afternoon. They were so
pleased to see me, and made so much of me;' then, with a quick change of
tone, 'You have walked too far to meet me, Michael--you are looking
paler than usual this evening!'

'Nonsense,'