Transcriber's note: Unusual and inconsistent spelling is as printed. [Illustration: SHE SHRANK LOWER AND LOWER, TILL HER BOWED HEAD RESTED ON HER KNEES.] The Pride o' the Morning BY AGNES GIBERNE AUTHOR OF "SUN, MOON AND STARS," "THE MIGHTY DEEP," "STORIES OF THE ABBEY PRECINCTS," "ROY: A TALE IN THE DAYS OF SIR JOHN MOORE," ETC. "And so the shadows fall apart, And so the west winds play: And all the windows of my heart I open to the day." WHITTIER. London S. W. PARTRIDGE & CO., LTD. OLD BAILEY CONTENTS [Illustration] CHAPTER I. COLIN'S RETURN II. MIDNIGHT MOVEMENTS III. MRS. WYVERNE'S GRAND-DAUGHTERS IV. THINGS PAST AND PRESENT V. THE MIDFELL ATMOSPHERE VI. A BURNISHED STREAM VII. A STERN CHASE VIII. MR. DUGDALE'S OUTSPOKENNESS IX. A MOORLAND DEATH-TRAP X. DIREFUL REALISATIONS XI. CASTLE HILL PERPLEXITIES XII. COLIN AND HIS WORK XIII. THE OLD VILLAGE CHURCH XIV. SCULPTOR AND SITTER XV. AN INADVERTENT DISCOVERY XVI. LEVEL PLAINS XVII. DUTY VERSUS DESIRE XVIII. A PAST EPISODE XIX. A VANISHED PORTRAIT XX. REVERSION TO A RUT XXI. THE THINGS THAT ARE XXII. THINGS THAT SHOULD BE XXIII. COLIN'S CONQUESTS XXIV. A FAMILIAR HANDWRITING XXV. GILES OR SOMEBODY XXVI. AN UNQUIET MIND XXVII. RENEWED FIGHTING XXVIII. NEW DEVELOPMENTS XXIX. THE LOST HEIRLOOM XXX. MRS. KEITH AND HER CORRESPONDENT XXXI. GILES AND HIS HOPES XXXII. A POSSIBLE COMPLICATION XXXIII. COMING TO THE POINT XXXIV. A FLARE-UP AND ITS SEQUELÆ XXXV. THE OTHER MAN XXXVI. THE COIL IN ITS BEGINNING XXXVII. READJUSTMENTS THE PRIDE O' THE MORNING CHAPTER I COLIN'S RETURN A BEAM of sunshine from the far west came in at the oriel window of Castle Hill library. As its name might imply, Castle Hill stood somewhat high, at least for English Midlands. The house, an old one, often added to in the course of centuries, was two hundred feet above the village of Castlemere. It had, therefore, benefits of breeze and light; and this lengthy irregular room, with its four windows, its carved black oak, its hangings of dull green and old gold, enjoyed the latest kisses of the monarch of day. The hour for those kisses was not yet come. Wavelets of ether, shimmering billions to each beat of the venerable clock, speeding across ninety-three millions of miles, still landed on wall and carpet.