"So here you all are again" cried a cheery voice from within and at the same moment a tall well built man came forward. He was a contrast to his wife in every way, being fairly stout, dark and brown eyed. He had a kind though stern looking face. He greeted Helen very cordially with none of the shifty glances his wife had made use of and then introduced Hugh to her. He was only 17-1/2 with dark hair and eyes and very much resembled Lionel. "Well I'm glad to see you all back." cried Mr. Lincarrol, "but you all look tired, I suppose the journey was long?" "Not very" replied Minna who had hitherto kept a discreet silence, "but I'm very hungry. "Why of course you must be, ring the bell Hugh" cried Mr. Lincarrol heartily "and I'll see you get something at once." A very good meal was soon brought up and it was quickly disposed of. "Well Helen I'm going to bed now" said Minna at last, "if you come now I'll show you your room." "Oh thank you" replied Helen and with that they both walked upstairs together. Lionel and Hugh soon followed their example and so Lawrence was left alone with his father. "A very nice girl Helen Winston seems" cried Mr. Lincarrol, "I admire your taste Lawrence." "I'm glad you do" answered Lawrence, "I was struck with her when I first met her." "Yes I certainly admire your choice" replied Mr. Lincarrol, and after a few more words they both retired to bed. CHAPTER 34 FIVE YEARS LATER Five years have elapsed since we last saw Helen. Let us choose a favourable moment to view our heroine after the lengthy interval. Seated in a large and wealthily furnished drawing room by a bright fire, writing at a neat little table, sits Helen, now no longer Helen Winston but Mrs. Lincarrol. The clock has just struck 4. and the shades of the December evening are fast drawing in. By the light of the fire however we can get a tolerably good view of Helen. She has altered but little during the five years of her married life. She looks a trifle older, but the change is so slight as to be scarcely perceptible. She has still the luxurious black hair and long lashes shading her soft eyes. She is clothed in a rich tea-gown of a delicate green. She is writing diligently and seems intent on her work but she occasionally looks up to address a word or two to a delicate looking little girl of about three years who is playing on the hearth with a little fox terrier. This is little Nellie, the only child, a pale-faced fair-haired little thing, who has attained her third year today. At length it grows too dark to see, so closing her blotter with a snap, Helen walks to the window and holding aside the heavy velvit curtain gazes out accross the frost-bitten garden and the roofs of the houses, which are dotted about the town of B----. "Dear me" she says "it is beginning to snow, I think dear" she adds turning to her child "it is time you went up to the nursery tea will be ready I expect."