how awful! How awful!" Mona's face blanched at the thought of the
tragedy. The very calmness with which it was told made it seem worse,
more real, more inevitable. Even the sunshine and peace about her made it
seem more awful. Compared with such a trouble, her own was too paltry.
It was not a trouble at all. She felt ashamed of herself for the fuss she
had been making, and without more ado she bustled round to such good
purpose that when her father returned to his meal she had it all cooked
and ready to put on the table.

"That's a good maid," he said, encouragingly. "Why, you've grown a
reg'lar handy little woman. You'll be a grand help to your poor mother."

"I do want to be," said Mona, but she did not feel as confident about it
as her father did. "I'm going to have everything ready for her by the
time she gets home."

"That's right, I shan't be home till morning, most likely, so you'll have
to take care of her. She'll be fairly tired out, what with walking three
miles in the sun, and then being rattled about in Mr. Lobb's old cart.
The roads ain't fit for a horse to travel over."

"I should think she'd be here about six, shouldn't she, father?"

"Yes, that's about the old man's time, but there's no reckoning on him for
certain. He may have to go a mile or more out of his way, just for one
customer."

Apparently that was what he had to do that day, for six came and went, and
seven o'clock had struck, and darkness had fallen before the cart drew up
at Cliff Cottage, and Lucy clambered stiffly down from her hard,
uncomfortable seat.

She was tired out and chilly, but at the sound of the wheels the cottage
door was flung open, letting out a wide stream of cheerfulness, which made
her heart glow and drove her weariness away. Inside, the home all was
neat and cosy, the fire burned brightly, and the table was laid ready
for a meal. Lucy drew a deep breath of happiness and relief.

"Oh, it is nice to get home again," she sighed contentedly, "and most of
all to find someone waiting for you, Mona dear."

And Mona's heart danced with pleasure and happy pride. She felt well
repaid for all she had done.

CHAPTER V.

When Mona woke the next morning she felt vaguely that something was
missing. "Why it's the smell of the wallflowers!" she cried, after lying
for some minutes wondering what it could be. But in her new desire to get
dressed and downstairs early she did not give the matter another tho