“Its not dreary to me; I always loved Kingcombe Holm; and I must pay it one last visit before--before winter.” “But there is plenty of time,” returned Agatha, hastily. “Why go just now?” “Because”--Miss Valery spoke after a moment's pause, very steadfastly--“Because I have reasons for so doing. My old friend, Mr. Harper, has a few strong prejudices, some of them to the hurt of his brother, and I wish to talk to him myself before Mr. Brian Harper comes home.” While Miss Valery said this name, Agatha had carefully bent her eyes seaward. In answering, her colour rose--her manner was more troubled and hesitating by far than that of her companion. “Go, then. I will not hinder you. Nobody can feel more interest than I do in Uncle Brian. When do you think he will be here?” “In three weeks, most likely.” Anne made no other remark, nor did Agatha. In a short time they were driving homeward along the margin of the bay. That well-remembered bay, the sight of which even now made Agatha feel as if she were dreaming over again the one awful event of her childhood. And Anne--what felt she? No wonder that she did not talk. They came to a spot where the formal esplanade merged into a lonely sea-side walk, leading towards the widening mouth of the bay, and commanding the farthest view of the Channel as it curved down westward into the horizon. Agatha turned pale. “I remember it--that line of coast with the grey clouds over it. I lay on these sands, and afterwards when you fell, I sat and cried over you. This was the place, and it was over that point that the ship disappeared.” Anne was speechless. Agatha clasped her hand:--they understood one another. The next minute the carriage turned. Miss Valery breathed a quick sigh, and bent hurriedly forward; but the glitter of the ocean had vanished--she had seen the last of Weymouth Bay. It was a weary journey, for Anne seemed very feeble. Her young nurse was thankful when the flashing network of streams told how near they were whirling towards Kingcombe. As the train stopped, Mrs. Dugdale was visible on the platform; Duke also, not at the station--that being a degree of punctuality quite impossible--but a little way down the road. “Well, Miss Anne Valery and Mrs. Locke Harper! To be gallivanting about in this way! I declare it's quite disgraceful. What have you to say for yourselves? Here have I been running up to every train to meet you, and tell you”-- “What?” Agatha's cheek flushed with expectation. Anne grew very white. “Now, Mrs. Harper, you need not be so hasty--'tisn't your husband. A great blessing if it were. All the town is crying shame on him for staying away so long.” Agatha threw a furious look at her sister, and dragged Miss Valery along, nor stopped till she saw the latter could hardly breathe or stand. “Stay, my child. Harriet, you should not say such things. Nathanael is only absent on business--my business; he will come home soon.”