After this, it was an understood thing that Fred was to live with the Wentworths until he had completed his medical studies. His father and mother were obliged to return to Canada, and the time they had fixed on drew near. "Fred," said Janet to her husband, "I want you to leave Edgestone one day before we need go to Liverpool, for—I want to go to Hemsborough." "Why, Janet?" "I want to see Mrs. Rayburn. She has not answered my letter, but I am sure she is very unhappy—though, indeed, I tried to be gentle with her. Do you remember, in that first letter—the one that told us that she had seen our boy—she seemed to long sore to be forgiven?" "Janet—how can we forgive her? You ask too much—I'm only a man." "Have we no need of forgiveness? And remember 'forgive us, as we forgive.' Oh, dear Fred, you would not make that prayer mean 'do not forgive, for I will not'?" There was no resisting that argument. In a few days, farewell was said to the Wentworths, and also to the little grave, where now a marble cross bore Francis Rayburn's true and full name, and after the date and notice of his age, the words "Love is strong as death." Fred went with them, intending to see them off, and then go to London to continue his studies. They went to Hemsborough, and walked from the railway station to the Thompsons' house. They knocked and inquired if Mrs. Rayburn were at home. The servant said— "Mrs. Rayburn is not at all well. She keeps her room, and sees nobody, ma'am." "Please ask if she will see me," said Janet. "I am her daughter-in-law." The girl ran upstairs, and in a minute or so a lady came down to speak to them. Janet recognized her as one of the Thompson nieces of whom Mrs. Rayburn used to talk so much. "Mrs. Rayburn, my aunt is too ill to see any one but you," she began; "Mr. Rayburn must excuse her. Indeed, I have had great work to persuade her to see you; she is in such a state of nerves. She is very ill, and has been worse ever since she had a letter from you." Anna Thompson was looking curiously at the two young people all this time. Janet turned to her husband. "Will you go back to the station, Fred, or will you wait here?" "Come in and wait in the parlour. My mother is there," said Miss Thompson. So they went to the parlour, while she took Janet upstairs. "My aunt is a very secret woman," she said. "We know she has something on her mind, but she never talks of it. This is her room." She led Janet in, and, going over to the window, took up some work that lay there, and sat down. Mrs. Rayburn lay watching Janet with a strange gleam in her eyes, but she did not speak. Janet went up to the bed. "Don't you know me, Mrs. Rayburn?" "I know you. Is Anna there? Anna, go away—I must see Janet alone. Don't be angry, Anna—you're very kind, but I must see Janet alone." "Oh, certainly," said Miss Thompson, tossing her head. "I just thought you might be faint, you know; but I'm sure I don't want to stay."