CHAPTER XXVI NEW PATHS 258 CHAPTER XXVII A SENTENCE 266 CHAPTER XXVIII SUMMONED 274 CHAPTER XXIX SAFE 284 CHAPTER XXX THE MAIDEN ROCKS 293 CHAPTER XXXI THE WRECK 300 CHAPTER XXXII ANCHORED 306 CHAPTER XXXIII FAREWELL 310 CHAPTER I—TORTOISES AND HARES “Whate’er is good to wish, ask that of Heaven, Though it be what thou canst not hope to see.” —HARTLEY COLERIDGE. THE scene was a drawing-room, with old-fashioned heavy sash windows opening on a narrow brick-walled town-garden sloping down to a river, and neatly kept. The same might be said of the room, where heavy old-fashioned furniture, handsome but not new, was concealed by various flimsy modernisms, knicknacks, fans, brackets, china photographs and water-colours, a canary singing loud in the window in the winter sunshine. “Miss Prescott,” announced the maid; but, finding no auditor save the canary, she retreated, and Miss Prescott looked round her with a half sigh of recognition of the surroundings. She was herself a quiet-looking, gentle lady, rather small, with a sweet mouth and eyes of hazel, in a rather worn face, dressed in a soft woollen and grey fur, with headgear to suit, and there was an air of glad expectation, a little flush, that did not look permanent, on her thin cheeks. “Is it you, my dear Miss Prescott?” was the greeting of the older hostess as she entered, her grey hair rough and uncovered, and her dress of well-used black silk, her complexion of the red that shows wear and care. “Then it is true?” she asked, as the kiss and double shake of the hand was exchanged. “May I ask? Is it true? May I congratulate you?” “Oh, yes, it is true!” said Miss Prescott, breathlessly. “I suppose the girls are at the High School?” “Yes, they will be at home at one. Or shall I send for them?” “No, thank you, Mrs. Best. I shall like to have a little time with you first. I can stay till a quarter-past three.” “Then come and take off your things. I do not know when I have been so glad!” “Do the girls know?” asked Miss Prescott, following upstairs to a comfortable bedroom, evidently serving also the purposes of a private room, for writing table and account books stood near the fire. “They know something; Kate Bell heard a report from her cousins, and they have been watching anxiously for news from you.”