verybody dancing,"
said her son-in-law cheerfully, but still eyeing her with that same look
of concern.

"P'raps 'tis old age, then. I'm getting on, of course. It's only what I
ought to expect; but I seem to feel old all of a sudden; everything's a
burden to me. I can't do my work as I used, and I can't walk, and I can't
get used to doing nothing I'm ashamed for you to see the place as it is,
Peter if I'd known you was coming I'd have made an effort----"

"That's just why I didn't tell 'ee, mother. I came unexpected on purpose,
'cause I didn't want 'ee to be scrubbing the place from the chimney pots
down to the rain-water barrel. I know what you are, you see."

Poor old Granny Barnes smiled, but Mona felt hurt. She did her best to
keep the house clean and tidy, and she thought it was looking as nice as
nice could be. "What I was, you mean," said granny. "I don't seem to
have the strength to scrub anything now-a-days."

"Oh, well, there's no need for 'ee to. You've got Mona to do that kind of
thing for 'ee."

Mona's heart sank even lower. "Then he really had no thought of having
her home again!"

"I've brought your clothes, Mona," he said, turning again to her.
"Lucy was troubled that they hadn't been sent before. She thought you
must be wanting them."

"Thank you," said Mona, dully, and could think of nothing more to say,
though she knew her father waited for an answer.

"I've brought 'ee some fish, mother," picking up the basket. "It come in
last night. I thought you might fancy a bit, and Lucy sent a bit of
bacon, her own curing, and a jelly, or something of that sort."
Granny's face brightened. Though she had not approved of Mona's being
given a stepmother, she appreciated Lucy's kindness, and when they
presently sat down to dinner and she had some of the jelly, she
appreciated it still more. Her appetite had needed coaxing, but there had
been nothing to coax it with. "It tempts anyone to eat," she remarked,
graciously. "When one is out of sorts, one fancies something out of the
common."

"Lucy'll be rare and pleased to think you could take a bit," said Peter,
delighted for Lucy's sake.

"Yes, thank you. She's made it very nice. A trifle sour, perhaps, but I
like things rather sharpish."

"Mother," said Peter suddenly, "I wish you'd come to Seacombe to live.
It'd be nice to have you near." His eyes had been constantly wandering to
his mother-in-law's face, and always with the same an