Alice drew close to him with a little nestling movement, and Anne suddenly felt a sickening pain at her heart. “Don’t be so silly, Hugh! Any one would think we were lovers,” she declared, turning to her sister-in-law. “And we’ve been married ages. Nearly four months.” “Well, aren’t we lovers?” demanded Hugh, shaking her. “Answer me at once. Aren’t we?” She got up laughing, and kissed the top of his head. “Of course we are. But don’t be silly!” she commanded. She blushed, but her eyes were bright with happiness. “Oh never mind Anne!” said Hugh. “She’s one of the family. She doesn’t count.” The light, kindly meant words caused Anne another strange pang. She didn’t count. Of course she didn’t count. Why should she? “How lovely the sea is!” she exclaimed hastily. “I can’t look at it enough. You know I’ve only seen it once before.” “Nonsense! How’s that?” asked Hugh, with the easy forgetfulness of a man who does not realize the straitened life in which he never had a part. “I never went away,” said Anne, simply. “There was no money. Once when I was a child, Miss Atkins took me for a day to Broadstairs. You remember Miss Atkins?” “Old Thomas? She was Anne’s governess, and exactly like a tortoise-shell cat,” he explained turning to his wife. “Yes, what’s become of her?” “Dead,” said Anne. “She died ten years ago.” “Poor old thing!” returned Hugh perfunctorily. “Darling, won’t you show Anne her room, and then we can go for a walk before supper. Isn’t it warm here!” he exclaimed, leaning from the open window. “It’s so sheltered you see with the cliffs at the back. Make haste, Anne. We’ll take you on to the downs, and show you the sea to your heart’s content.” At supper the talk was all about Hugh. His past adventures, his future prospects. He had worked hard, and was now partner of the promising sheep farm in New Zealand, to which next month he proposed to return with his wife. “I tell Alice it won’t be a very gay existence for her. She doesn’t look much like a farmers wife, does she?” He threw her an admiring glance. “But she declares she won’t mind.” “_You’ll_ be there,” was Alice’s only comment. “Oh yes! And there are neighbours too. Very jolly people. And Bob Holmes, that’s my partner, you know, Anne, is an awfully decent fellow. You’ll like his wife, Alice. She’s such a cheery little woman. Oh! it’s not so bad. And the climate’s splendid. Lord! how one misses the sun in this damp misty old country!” “It will be lovely. I’m longing to go,” Alice exclaimed. “You see she’s only got an uncle and aunt to leave,” explained Hugh, turning to his sister. “She’s a very lonely little person.” “Not now,” said Alice, her voice full of content. * * * * * Before she had been with them two days, Anne had found herself filled with a passionate longing to return to her quiet home. To get back to the shelter in which she was not reminded twenty times an hour that she “didn’t count.”