Transcriber's note: Unusual and inconsistent spelling is as printed. [Illustration: SUDDENLY SHE HEARD A VOICE, AND CHARLIE OXTON . . . STEPPED UP ON THE BANK] THE MAKING OF A WOMAN BY AMY LE FEUVRE AUTHOR OF "PROBABLE SONS," "THE MENDER," "A BIT OF ROUGH ROAD," "HEATHER'S MISTRESS," ETC., ETC. LONDON THE RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY 4 BOUVERIE STREET, E.C.4 Made in Great Britain Printed by Unwin Brothers, Ltd. London and Woking BY THE SAME AUTHOR THE CHISEL TOMINA IN RETREAT BRIDGET'S QUARTER DECK THE CARVED CUPBOARD A DAUGHTER OF THE SEA HEATHER'S MISTRESS HER HUSBAND'S PROPERTY JOYCE AND THE RAMBLER THE MAKING OF A WOMAN THE MENDER ODD MADE EVEN OLIVE TRACY DWELL DEEP A HAPPY WOMAN THE CHATEAU BY THE LAKE THE DISCOVERY OF DAMARIS [Illustration] OF ALL BOOKSELLERS CONTENTS CHAPTER I. A STAGNANT ATMOSPHERE II. REBELLION III. A SPEEDY RETURN IV. A FRIEND IN NEED V. A NEW LIFE VI. DISILLUSION VII. "SUNNIE" VIII. "AN OUTSIDER" IX. THE FIVE MARGARETS X. CENTRES XI. "WORTH SENDING FOR!" XII. AN EVENTFUL RAILWAY JOURNEY XIII. KINGSFORD FARM XIV. CHARLIE OXTON XV. A SUBSTITUTE XVI. A DOCTOR'S VERDICT XVII. TOWN FRIENDS XVIII. SUNNIE'S MOTHER XIX. SUCCESS XX. TWO LETTERS XXI. THE STRUGGLING PROFESSIONAL XXII. IN DIRE STRAITS XXIII. AN ARRIVAL XXIV. THEIR FUTURE XXV. LOOKING BACK THE MAKING OF A WOMAN CHAPTER I A STAGNANT ATMOSPHERE "God's silence on the outside of the house, And we who did not speak too loud within."—Aurora Leigh. SHE sat at her window overlooking the wide and dreary expanse of marshland. A faint streak of light near the horizon was all that could be seen of the sea. No trees or buildings broke the monotonous scene, and Jean's deep inquiring blue eyes sought in vain for anything to brighten her landscape. She was young, she was vigorous and healthy, and her spirits were good as a rule; yet to-day she was in the depths of depression, and the grey mist that was slowly rolling in from the ocean and obliterating the russet-brown rushes and the coarse dank grass that stretched for so many miles in front of her, only seemed a fit emblem of the cloud over her soul. She threw up her head at last with a weary sigh. "He is my grandfather!" she exclaimed aloud. "My father's father! But oh! If he had been my mother's father, how differently I should feel!"