"He's always saying things that are like rays of sunshine to us in our trouble, Joseph," said Mrs Luttrell, looking up through her tears at the earnest countenance at her side. "Bayle, I shall have to lose the old place--the wife's old home, of which she is so proud--and my old garden. It's a bitter blow at my time of life, but it must come." "I was afraid there was something very wrong," said Bayle; "but suppose we look the difficulties in the face. I'm a bit of a lawyer, you know, my dear doctor. Let's see what can be done. I want to be delicate in my offer, but I must be blunt. I am not a poor man, my wants are very simple, and I spend so little--let me clear this difficulty away. There, we will not bother Mrs Luttrell about money matters. Consider it settled." "No," said the doctor firmly, "that will not do. I appreciate it all, my dear boy, truly; but there is only one way out of this difficulty-- the old place must be sold." "Oh, Joseph, Joseph!" sighed Mrs Luttrell, and the tears fell fast. "It must be, wife," said the doctor firmly. "Bayle, after what you said, will you buy the old home? I could bear it better if it fell into your hands." "Are you sure it must be sold?" "There is no other way out of the difficulty, Bayle. Will you buy it?" "If you tell me that there is certainly no other way out of the difficulty, and that it is your wish and Mrs Luttrell's, I will buy the place." "Just as it stands--furniture--everything?" "Just as it stands--furniture--everything." "Ah!" ejaculated the doctor with a sigh of relief. "Thank God, Bayle!" he cried, shaking the curate's hand energetically. "I have not felt so much at rest for months. Now I want, you to tell me a little about the town--about the people. What do they say?" "Say?" "Yes: say about us--about Hallam--about Millicent, about our darling?" "My dear doctor, I shall have to go and fetch old Gemp. He will point at game, and tell you more in half-an-hour than I shall be able to tell you in a year. Had we not better change the conversation?--here is Mrs Hallam with Julia." As he spoke the garden gate clicked, and Millicent came into sight, with her child, the one grave and sad, the other all bright-eyed eagerness and excitement. "There they are, mamma--in the yew seat!" And the child raced across the lawn, bounded over a flowerbed, and leaped upon the doctor's knee. "Dear old grandpa!" she cried, throwing her arms round his neck and kissing him effusively, but only to leap down and climb on Mrs Luttrell's lap, clasping her neck, and laying her charming little face against the old lady's cheek. "Dear, sweet old grandma!" she cried. Then, in all the excitement of her young life, she was down again to seize Bayle's hand. "Come and get some fruit and flowers. We may, mayn't we, grandpa?" "I'm sure we may," said Bayle, laughing, "only I must go."