“She was an innocent, simple creature, Evelyn!” “She was your wife, James. Don’t go into the house which you have dreamed of for so long without thinking of her who never lived to be its mistress.” Rowland took off his hat. “I had a sore heart to lose my poor Mary,” he said; “God bless her in Heaven, where she is; but I have got the best blessing a man can have in Rosmore.” CHAPTER XXI. Mrs. Brown did not come to Rosmore, though she received a letter from Mrs. Rowland which dissolved her at the first moment of reading in tears and gratitude, but which afterwards she began to fear must have “some motive,” though it was difficult to imagine what. For why should the lady be so kind to her? she asked herself. There are a great many good people in the world, and especially women, who are haunted with this idea of a “motive,” and cannot shake themselves free of it. Jane was herself an innocent person enough, acting upon impulse continually. But all the more was she anxious to investigate the supposed mysterious meaning and suggestion of self-interest which could have dictated Evelyn’s kind and simple letter. “I should have wished that you had come with the children to settle them in their new home, where, of course, there will always be a room for you, their affectionate guardian, who have been a mother to them; but at least I hope you will come now, and that you will approve of all my arrangements for them.” It was difficult to find anything in this that could be objected to, and Jane wept over it at first, as has been said; but then her habitual distrust came in. “What will the woman be wanting with me? It will be to give herself credit with Jims, and throw a’ the blame on me--but I’ll no fa’ into the snare,” she said to herself, falling into it instantly, if snare it was. When Archie appeared in the afternoon to fetch her, she shook her head. “Na, na, I’m no gaun--no a fit. It’s just some plan for exposing your poor mammaw’s family, and letting him see we’re no to be evened to _her_. No, no, I will never set my fit within Rosmore.”