"Good girl. Kiss me. God bless you. George, George,--come here!" George's red face had been peeping round his bedroom door. "George, your sister will do what is required. By God's blessing we may keep your mother with us yet." "Thank you, Rosamund," said George. He bent his big sulky head and kissed me lightly on my forehead. He, too, in his fashion, was blessing me. I felt as if my heart would break. I turned the handle of my mother's door and went in. There was no confusion in this room. A bright little fire burned in the grate. One of the windows was open about an inch. The room was sweet with the perfume of violets. Somebody--my father probably--had picked a few from the garden and brought them in. My mother herself was lying high up in bed supported by pillows. There was a faint pink on each of her cheeks, but the rest of her sweet and lovely face was white as death. Her gentle eyes looked too bright, her lips wore too sweet a smile. The moment I saw her the whole attitude of my mind changed. I ceased to feel that I was about to do any sacrifice. I became eager--excited to set the seal to that which would open wide the fairy doors of peace and health and ease and luxury for my mother. I absolutely lived in her life at that moment. I was nothing--she was everything. I rejoiced; my heart even danced at the thought that it was in my power to bestow a great gift upon her. I went up and kissed her. "You look well, Rose," she whispered, reading the joy which filled my eyes. "Oh, yes, I am very well," I replied. "I am so glad to be back with you, mother. I am going to stay with you night and day until you are as strong as you ever were." While I spoke I held her hand, which I softly stroked. In a few minutes I stole out of the room. George was still lingering about on the landing. "Well, well?" he whispered. "Don't whisper, George, but come down-stairs with me at once; I want to write a letter, and I want you to take it for me." I sat down at my mother's desk in the drawing-room and scribbled a hasty line: "Dear Mr Gray,-- "I will fulfil the conditions of Cousin Geoffrey's will. Please give George a hundred pounds to bring back with him. "Yours very truly,-- "Rosamund Lindley." George was looking over my shoulder as I wrote. "You must get some of that money in small change," I said, looking up at him. "And then you are to buy all the things I have mentioned in this list. Don't forget one of them, and come back by the first possible train." While I was speaking to George my father came into the room. "It's all right," I said; "and George is going to town to get the things we shall immediately require. Now go, George, and be quick. Father, I want to speak to you." "What is it, Rose?" "Will you please go out and ascertain if the Priory is still to let?" "The Priory! Are you mad, child?"