"What should I have done without him in this strait?" she often thought; and for his presence there--showing that there was some one to love, and some one who loved her--she was deeply grateful. "Every day I expect visitors now," continued Mr. Gray, "and think it very singular that no one calls. You will be glad to see Sidney, Mattie?" "Very glad." That same evening a letter arrived for Mr. Gray, informing him that the elders of his chapel would be very glad to see him on the following afternoon--a letter that turned the subject of discourse for that day, and took Mr. Gray away upon the next. During his absence the first visitor arrived. Mattie was in the shop, when Maurice Hinchford entered, walked at once to his high chair, and assumed his customary position there. Remembering what had happened since then, Mattie winced somewhat. "Good afternoon, Miss Gray," he said, shaking hands with her. "Given up for lost, and considered the most ungrateful of human kind, I am sure?" "No, sir." "To tell you the truth, we have had a bother with that cousin of mine. He's so horribly obstinate, we don't exactly know what to do with him." "He's no worse?" asked Mattie, eagerly. "Worse!--he's so much better that we cannot keep him quiet. We locked him up a week in the dark, and then gave him light in homoeopathic doses--globules of light, in fact--and so brought him round to a natural state of things. He is told to be cautious, and we catch him writing a letter to you, and we foil the attempt, and get sauced at for our pains. Then he wants to come back here directly, on business, he says; and we take him _nolens volens_ to Red-Hill, and lock him up in our rooms there, with my sisters to see after him during our absence, and at length he is pacified a bit, and resigned to country air." "Have you come at his request, sir?" asked Mattie. "Yes. I promised faithfully to call to-day, and assure you that he is nearly well, and will shortly surprise you by a visit. He is very, very anxious to see old friends. That's my commission; and now, Miss Gray, about this conspiracy of ours--will it succeed?" Mattie drew a long breath, and then prepared herself. She knew where his interest lay, and how unconscious he was whither her thoughts had drifted once, but she was prepared to meet all now. It was for every one's content, save hers. Only herself shut out from the general rejoicing in the cold ante-room wherein no warmth could steal! "It will succeed, I think--I hope." "Yes, but how are we to begin?" "Harriet Wesden and Sidney must meet and explain all that they have thought concerning each other--that's all." "Ah! that's all! Quite enough, considering how difficult it is to bring them together. Difficult, but not impossible, Miss Gray; we shall skim round to the proper method in due course. Harriet Wesden's appearance roused him, did it not?" "I think so. Has--has he ever spoken of it since?"