eld in her
hands. In the light of the fire tears glistened on her cheeks.

Mona felt a sudden great longing to comfort her, to make life happier for
her. "Granny, would you have liked me to have read some of my books to
you sometimes?"

"Very much, dearie. I always loved a nice story."

"Oh--why ever didn't you say so before." The words broke from Mona like a
cry of reproach. "I didn't know, I never thought--I thought you'd think
them silly or--or--something."

"I know--it wasn't your fault. Sometimes I think it'd be better if we
asked more of each other, and didn't try to be so independent. It's those
that you do most for that you care most for--and miss most when they're
gone!" added granny, half under her breath.

Once again Mona was struck by the curious change in granny's tone and
manner, and felt a depressing sense of foreboding.

"Would you like me to read to you now, granny? Out of--of the Bible?"
She hesitated, as though shy of even speaking the name.

"Yes, dearie, I'd dearly love to hear the 86th Psalm."

Mona hurriedly lifted the big book out from under the mats and odds and
ends that were arranged on its side. She had never read aloud from the
Bible before, and at any other time her shyness would have almost overcome
her. To-day, though, she was possessed with a feeling that in the Bible
she would perhaps find something that would rouse and cheer granny, and
charm her own fears away, and she was in a hurry to get it and begin.

CHAPTER XI.

Patty found Millie Higgins down on the Quay, where she was shouting and
laughing with five or six others who were playing 'Last Touch.'
No one would have guessed that she had left two sad and aching hearts and
a ruined treasure behind her but half an hour ago.

Patty, with a growing scorn in her eyes, stood by talking to Philippa
Luxmore until the game had finished. She meant not to lose sight of
Millie until she had had her say. Millie caught sight of Patty, though,
and dashed into another game without any pause. She did not know that
Patty had come especially to speak to her, but she did not want to have
anything to say to Patty--not for a while, at any rate. She would rather
wait until the events of the afternoon had been forgotten a little.

Patty guessed, though, what her purpose was, and, after she had waited for
another game to end, she went boldly up to her.

"Millie," she said, without any beating about the bush, "I've come to a