"`Ye-es.' "`Wife a little pompous, perhaps?' "`Yes; I could not help thinking so,' she faltered. "`And the children rude and disagreeable?' I said, smiling. "`I'm--I'm afraid so,' she faltered. "`Never mind, never mind,' I said cheerfully. `It shan't be for long, little woman. I shall never rest till I have a comfortable home for our darlings once again; and Hetty, God bless her! she has a way and disposition that must make every one love her. Mistress, children, servants, they will all love and respect her; so we must be patient for a while--only be patient.' "These words frightened my poor wife again, but my calm quiet smiles reassured her; and that evening I eat up and had tea with those who were left--the two little ones--by the open window of my bedroom, and a sweet sense of calmness and content was over me, such as I had not known for many weary months. "I was down in the garden the next morning before the sun was hot. I had always loved my bit of garden, and by the help of a hoe walked all round it, feeling a little sad to see how it had gone to ruin, but already making plans for the future. "`Ah, Mr Hendrick!' said a cheery voice, and I recognised a neighbour with whom I had often ridden up to business of a morning; `glad to see you so much better.' "`Thank you, I am much better,' I said, catching the extended hand, and feeling a warm glow at my heart in the friendly grasp. "`By the way don't be offended,' he said, `but are you going to leave your house?' "`I am thinking of doing so,' I said sadly. "`I don't mean that,' he said hastily. `I mean for a month or six weeks. An old friend of mine, a country lawyer, wants a furnished residence for self and family for a time, handy to town, where he has a big railway case on. I thought, perhaps if you were going to the sea side for a bit--you know--he's well off--ask stiff rent, and that sort of thing--eh?--think it over.' "`I--I will,' I said, gasping for breath; for this new piece of good fortune was almost too much for me. "Suffice it that I promised to send him word, and the result was that, though it delayed my going for a few days, before the next week was over I was down in a pleasant cottage by the sea side, with not only enough for current expenses, but a good surplus coming from the rent of our own house, for my neighbour had secured for me a far higher sum than I should have asked; and there was no occasion to touch the fifty pounds, with which I cleared off all my debts. "That was a calm and delicious time, when with the sweet sense of returning strength I lay upon the sands, drawing in the iodine-laden sea-breeze, and seeming to feel a change day by day. We had the most cheerful letters from the girls and our boy, telling us of their success, and Hetty's were above all long and affectionate.