"I'm coming back, Ruffie, as fast as the train will take me, on Tuesday next, and I hope to arrive before bedtime. I will try to have my 'exack' smile to greet you. I am sorry there have been ructions of sorts between you young people, and that you have been both wicked and lonely, but I'll tell you a secret! I have felt lonely here, without any little head leaning against my shoulder, and eager voices shouting in my ear, 'Tell us more.' And as for wickedness, our hearts are much alike, and I'm afraid I know what it is to be wicked sometimes! We must all pray hard, and fight hard, mustn't we? How sorry I am that the little head still aches. But you have Dad with you; ask him to stroke the pain away as I try to do. "And now good-bye, my sweet. And give Josie and Georgie my love. I shall soon be with my dear little people again. "Your loving, "STEPPIE." When Tuesday came, Anstice said good-bye to her old cousin with a light heart. Lady Lucy was not satisfied with her short visit. "It is no time at all. Justin ought to be made to feel your absence. I hope he has been thoroughly miserable without you, but I'm afraid you left him too comfortable for that." Anstice could not help laughing. "Justin and I are very happy together," she said. "I will write and tell you if he has missed me much, but I expect he has been too busy to give me a thought." As she journeyed up North, her thoughts naturally went back to her marriage day, and to the mingled feelings of doubt and dread with which she travelled then to an unknown country and an unknown life. How different was it now! She was assured a loving welcome from the children who had tried to drive her from them; and as to her husband, she had an instinctive conviction that he was no longer indifferent to her. Whether he merely liked her because of the comfort and ease which she had brought to his home and because of her easy companionship and friendliness, remained to be seen. When she arrived at Penrith, Justin was on the platform; he led her out to a beautiful car. "I've just bought it," he said. "It only arrived from London yesterday. It was one I had seen with a view to purchase before I went abroad. You'll be able to use it when I am away." "And when may that be?" Anstice asked lightly. And he responded as lightly: "When the fit takes me." "All the small fry wanted to come and meet you," he went on; "but I refused to bring them. They're too much about one in the house. I like to be free of them when I can." "Your house would be very dull without the children," said Anstice, a sparkle in her eyes. "To you; I think I could dispense with them—perhaps not the boy." "How is he?" "Fairly well. His spirit never flags." Then, as he neared the house, he put his hand on Anstice's shoulder. "We're glad to have you back," he said. "I suppose I need hardly tell you this."