She was lying on her sofa, very still and death-like. The white cap tied under her chin, the hands folded--the perfect silence in and about the room--it was like as if she had lain down to rest, calmly and alone, in her solitary house, and in her sleep the spirit had flown away;--away into the glorious company of angels and archangels, never to be alone any more. But it was not so. Hearing footsteps, Anne opened her eyes, and roused herself quickly. She looked from one to the other of the young people--at the first glance she seemed to understand all A great joy flashed across her; but she said nothing. She as well as they were long used to that peculiarity of nature--which especially belonged to the Harper family--a conviction of the uselessness of talk and the sacredness of silence. “Has my brother arrived?” said Nathanael. “Not yet.” “Marmaduke is gone?” “Yes; he wanted to get up a Free-trade dinner for the welcoming”--here she smiled--“of one whom he says all Dorset will be delighted to welcome--your Uncle Brian. Worthy Duke! It is his hobby, and one likes to indulge him in it.” “Most certainly. And where is the dinner--Uncle Brian's grand dinner--to take place?” “I persuaded him to change it into a public meeting, and give the clay-cutters--many of them Mr. Locke Harper's former people, and some now old and poor--a New Year's feast instead. You will see to that, Nathanael?” And she laid her hand on his arm with rather more earnestness than the simple request warranted. Nathanael assented hastily, and spoke of something else. “I am rather sorry I asked my brother to meet me here; I forgot he has not been to Thornhurst for so many years.” “It is time then that he came,” said Anne, gently. “I shall be very glad to see him.” While she was speaking, her old servant entered, with the announcement of “Major Harper.” Just the Major Harper of old--well-dressed, courtly, with his singularly handsome face, and his short dark moustache, sufficient to mark the military gentleman without degrading him into the puppy; Major Harper with his habitual good-natured smile and faultless bearing, so gracefully welcomed, so gaily familiar in London drawing-rooms.--But here?-- He paused at the door, glanced hastily round the old familiar room, with the known pictures hanging on the walls, and the windows opening on the straight alley of arbutus-trees. His smile grew rather meaningless--he hesitated. “Will you come to this chair near me? I am very glad to see you, Major Harper.” “Thank you, Miss Valery.” He crossed the room to her sofa, Nathanael making way for him. He just acknowledged his brother's presence and Agatha's, then took Miss Valery's extended hand, bowing over it with an attempt at his former grace.