ic appearance in the eyes of a beholder. She broke into a forced
laugh and turned aside to seat herself at the desk.

"Oh, thank you! You _have_ helped me already by your charming
suggestion about the children's entertainment. I have written to my
sister, and hope to find the story ready when I get home."

Even to her own ears the reply sounded curt and ungracious, an obvious
turning aside from the point at issue, and Ralph showed that he felt the
same by saying no more, and leaving the room as soon as he had written a
short note. It was painful to be obliged to appear ungracious, but
painful things have to be done occasionally, and Hope longed for the day
to arrive that would put an end to her suffering. Avice pleaded hard
for an extension of her stay, and could only be pacified by the promise
of a longer visit in spring, when the lodge rooms were to be furnished
and the new scheme inaugurated by which she was to play the part of
fairy godmother to less fortunate girls than herself. That was one good
thing that seemed likely to arise from this visit, and it was some
compensation to Hope to receive her cousin's affectionate embrace at
parting, and to hear her say, "Goodbye, sweet Hope. Don't forget me
among all your duties. We shall be in town again in a fortnight, and I
sha'n't be content unless you come at least once a week to see me. You
have done me lots of good. I'll try--I really will try--to think more
of other people."

That sent Hope away with a thankful heart, and with courage to go
through the farewells downstairs. Her new friends seemed sorry to say
good-bye, but it was not a sorrow that would imperil their peace of
mind. Truda had received a longed-for invitation to a country-house in
the neighbourhood, and was in the highest of spirits, and Mr Merrilies
was not present. Hope wondered if she were not to see him to say
good-bye, but when she stepped out of the carriage on to the platform of
the little station, a tall figure appeared within the threshold of the
waiting-room, and Ralph Merrilies himself stepped forward to meet her.

"I thought I would walk home this way and see you off. Are you alone!
Will you come in here beside the fire or walk up and down?"

Hope glanced at the clock, found she had still five minutes to wait, and
decided that it would be less embarrassing to move about than to remain
within the confines of that little room.

"I shall have to sit still for the next three h