clean daft, Dym, I must take care of you. Come under the eaves of the great barn, none of the men are about; and now tell me this wonderful piece of news."

"How do you know I have any to tell?" returned Dym with an attempt at her old pertness; "it is not the first time I have come over to the farm to talk to you."

"But it is the first time you have brought that sort of face with you," returned Humphrey shrewdly, and indeed Dym's dark eyes were bright with heart sunshine. "Shall I guess,

Dym, or will you have the telling yourself?" "You couldn't guess, Humphrey, if you were to try ever so. Stoop your head; I want to whisper; it is too good to say out loud. Who do you think is at Ingleside, Humphrey? O Humphrey, who do you think came home last night?"

Dym's whisper broke into a falter, but Humphrey, generally so slow of comprehension, heard it perfectly. He started, and then his eyes flashed.

"Not the Squire; oh, Dym, you can never mean that," and a strange shiver of repressed feeling ran through Humphrey Nethecote's frame.

"His very own self, but, oh such a wreck, Humphrey, grey-haired and thin, and years older. Will you rebuke me for my faith now, because I told his mother and child that he would surely come home again ?"

"No, no, you were right, and I was wrong,

and thank God for it! The Squire has come home you say; nay, I am a trifle dizzy, Dym, tell it me over again. Why, we thought he was dead-Madam and all of us."

"( Kelpie and I knew better-it was Kelpie who knew him first, and insisted on my unbarring the door. Come, Humphrey, you must not look pale over it; you are more startled because you lost all hope you see."

"Ay, ay, when I see him I shall understand it better. Come away, Dym, why are we waiting? The Squire will expect a welcome, of course."

Dym nodded assent, but she looked up anxiously into Humphrey's face as they threaded the wet field-paths again. Humphrey's face was quite blanched with his great surprise, and now and then he bit his lip nervously.

"The Squire's come home, and I thought he was lying fathoms deep," she heard him mutter to himself, and then, as though the real truth were suddenly dawning on him, he quickened his steps into a hasty stride.

"Gently, gently, Humphrey," but for once he did not hear her. Dym's own footsteps became a run, and even then she only retained her place at his side with difficulty; she followed him panting as Humphrey pushed open the conservatory door, and advanced to the library; but there the old instinct made them both pause, and Dym timidly knocked.

"Who is there ?-come in. What, Humphrey !" Guy put down his child from his knee

and rose hastily, and the two men grasped hands in silence.

"Eh, Squire! but we have been heartsick for the loss of you, and the good God has given you back to us;" and Humphrey turned aside for a moment, and his face worked with emotion.

"I haven't deserved it, Humphrey," returned Guy in a broken voice, "any more than I deserve this welcome. I never thought that anything could be so sweet to me again. Look here, dear old friend, my more than brother!" and throwing his arm over Humphrey's broad shoulder he drew him to where the child sat watching them with solemn grey eyes of puzzled wonder.

"She is growing like Honor's self. I always said she would, Squire; she will be the light of your eyes and the sunshine of your home, before many years are over."

She has Honor's eyes and broad thoughtful brow; but she will never have her mother's beauty, and her hair is several shades lighter," added Guy, regretfully.

66

"Mamma is very pretty, but I think auntie is prettier," interrupted Florence. Why do you look sad, papa? you are not hungry or cold now you know."

"No, not now, my darling," he replied fondly, snatching her again to his breast; "at least I can bear to endure my life now this one blessing is spared to me. I never thought to say that, Humphrey, till I knew how dreadful the shadow of the valley of death could be."

"Ay, we must all bide till our time comes," returned Humphrey, laconically; but as Florence nestled caressingly on her father's shoulder, the child's golden hair mingled with the Squire's grey beard, Dym saw him hastily turn away and brush his hand across his eyes.

CHAPTER VIII.

AT BAY.

HE news of the Squire's return spread like wildfire through the little valley of Birstwith, and before many hours were over Ingleside was besieged by friends and acquaintances of all degrees.

The vicar and his wife were the first arrivals, Mr. Fortescue as he entered the room and heard Guy's cheery, "Well, Lat, how has it fared with you, old fellow?" was so overpowered with emotion that he could only wring his cousin's hand without saying a word, while Katherine, silent and subdued for once in her life, kissed him affectionately and said, "God bless you, Guy!" and then indulged in a thorough womanly bit of crying.

"Who would have believed Kate had so much feeling in her," Mr. Chichester observed afterwards, but his own eyes glistened as he said it; through that day's ordeal the Squire bore himself bravely, but Dym noticed his face grew paler and graver, and his lips were often compressed as though in pain as he listened to his friends' kindly congratulations and warm expressions of joy.