Produced by Chris Curnow, Mark Young, Lindy Walsh and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net LEFT TO OURSELVES; OR JOHN HEADLEY'S PROMISE _Left to Ourselves_; OR, _John Headley's Promise_. BY CATHARINE SHAW, AUTHOR OF "AT LAST;" "ALICK'S HERO;" "THE GABLED FARM;" "ONLY A COUSIN;" ETC. NEW EDITION. _LONDON_: JOHN F. SHAW AND CO., 48, PATERNOSTER ROW, E.C. CONTENTS. CHAPTER PAGE I. THE FIVE 9 II. A PACKET 14 III. THE DARK CAVERN: AN ALLEGORY 19 IV. RESCUED 27 V. NEW ROBES 33 VI. AT LAST 37 VII. LAST DAYS 43 VIII. ONE INJUNCTION 52 IX. THE FIRST SUNDAY ALONE 65 X. THE GOLDEN OIL: AN ALLEGORY 74 XI. A CUPBOARD OF RUBBISH 85 XII. JOHN'S PROMISE 92 XIII. HUGH'S PROMISE 101 XIV. CHRISTMAS-DAY 109 XV. WHERE ONE PUDDING WENT 118 XVI. THE RAG CUSHION 128 XVII. THE LAST PUDDING 136 XVIII. NEW YEAR'S EVE 142 XIX. WORRIED 151 XX. A SURPRISE 158 XXI. THE MAGIC OF LOVE 169 XXII. MINNIE'S SECRET 177 XXIII. THE END OF THE JOURNEY 185 [Illustration] LEFT TO OURSELVES. CHAPTER I. _THE FIVE._ "Mother, I'm sure you may trust me!" "My child, I trust you for all that you know; but there are things which no one but a mother can know." "Of course there are. Oh, I don't for a moment mean that I shall do as well as _you_, mother, only----" "Yes," answered Mrs. Headley, thoughtfully, "you see, Agnes, your dear grandmother in America is pronounced to be failing very fast. I have not seen her for twenty years, and if I do not go now I may never see her again in this world." "And father's having to go there on business now makes it so easy." "Easy all but leaving you children." "But I am nineteen now, mother--quite old enough to be trusted; besides, grandmama and aunt Phyllis live next door, and if anything happened I could run in to them." Mrs. Headley smiled, looking half convinced. "Who is it you are afraid to leave?" asked Agnes coaxingly. "Is it _me_, mother?" "_You?_" echoed Mrs. Headley, stroking her face tenderly. "No, not you, dear." "Then it is John." "No, no; John is a good boy, he will help you I am sure." "Then is it Hugh?" "No; Hugh is steady, and very fond of his lessons; and he will be sure to do as you wish him, if he promises beforehand." "Then is it Alice?" Mrs. Headley shook her head.