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CHAPTER XIV. ELINOR'S GUESTS. "e I MUST see them together—I must see them together! Then perhaps I shall know But why did he say those things to me? Was it to make it plain to me that never, never would he be to me as he was in the past ? Is that old sweet tie never to be resumed ? Am I to live my life in lone- liness to the bitter end ? Ah me !—ah me And yet, have I not faced this long ago? And if he knew all. Elinor sud- denly rose from her chaise longiie, which now took the place of the invalid oollch of her first weeks here, and began pacing slowly to and fro along the grassy walk be- neath the overshadowing lime trees, and she wrung her hands together as she sud- denly broke off, and with an interjection of bitterest pain she whispered beneath her breath, 0 why did I do it? Wliat possessed me to do it ? Do I not know now? I thought only how to separate them Laurence is proud, and he would h ate to be the subject of malicious gossip. For him to begin to woo the young and beautiful widow—her husband mysteri- ously done to death—she, perhaps, being in some sort concerned—and he—Laurence, ,a guest in that same hotel at that same moment I had thought it would be enough for him; that he would shy away from them like a nervous, high-mettled horse; that he would hate the bare thought of his name being linked with any strange, suspicious story. And instead, it just sent him flying to Danecourt—into her very arms Ah me !—ah me And now he wants to know the originator of that rumour Elinor stopped short and pressed her hands to her eyes. She was not a woman who weeps easily, yet it seemed to her at that moment as though .her heart wept tears of blood. H And so I myself have built between us a barrier which may never perhaps be thrown down In my insensate jealousy I have done to myself irremediable hurt, and to those he reg-ards as his friends a cruel wrong. That it may all be true- that .1 believe it to be true—is nothing. It was not love for truth which prompted me—it was deadly, loathsome jealousy! I know it! I hate and despise myself for it I did this before I knew the hurt I had achieved. He judges well to wipe me out of his life! If he knew more he would not, even desire me for his friend But, what does he want of her ? Ah, I must know that—I must learn that;! Suspense is what I cannot bear He may think at this moment that he will never wish, to. link his life with that of any woman. For the moment, of course', thcee two cannot draw together/ .Friendship wi'll be for them the role. But when her widowhood is older when she can envisage a new life what then ? Do I not know ? All his farmer scruples will be thrown, to the winds She is lovely, young, prob- ably well dowered. Ami if he wants hear— surely he will win her Is he not made to conquer and to reign ? Elinor's reverie and whispered soliloquy was broken in upon by the sound of voices. She walked towards the boundary wall, her mask of quiet serenity instantly assumed, and she saw that Lois was re- turning, and that she had for a companion Canon Conniston himself. They greeted one another with gentle friendliness; but it was Lois who spoke. "I was telling Canon Conniston about your visitor, Elinor. I hope he has not tired you. Ought you to be on your feet? You look so pale-c.an I get you any- thing? Bring us both out a little, refreshing drink, dear, such as you are so clever at making up. Canon Conniston will rest a few minutes with me I am sure," and as the girl obeyed her behest and tripped lightly away, she led the old clergyman within the precincts of her garden, and laid her hand with a significant pressure upon his arm. Did you think to find him here? she asked softly. I scarcely know. I was coming this way when I was overtaken by your very attractive young companion. I would not turn back, yet I scarcely know whether I hoped to see my son here with you. If he be here, at the gates of his boyhood's home, surely it should be towards his father and his father's house where first he should wend his steps." "Ah yes—but give him time pleaded Elinor, he is not quite as others are. One seems t.o need different standards for him, though I see you call this weakness. Yet listen, he does desire to see you again-he spoke of this but now. And he does repent. And that makes it hard for him. You know how always he sought to avoid that which gave him pain. And so he has asked of me to 'help him through' as he phrases it. And I have promised to do what I can." "What you can, dear lady? And what does my son mean by this petition of his ? I think it means that he is suffering from a strong sense of his own unworthi- ness--a kind of spiritual shyness, if I may use such a phrase. To-morrow he is to come here with the friends he is visit- ing at Monkshollow Farm. And he asks of me to include von in this small gather- ing. He thinks that the first meeting will be easier for both i*f made in pres- ence of others. And if you also think this The old man's face was set in lines of a certain stern gentleness which endowed it with a new dignity and beauty. His voice was steady, and yet resonant with feeling. "For your goodness and sympathy with my son, I thank you, my dear lady. But for myself I think that Laurence must seek me in that home which is both mine and his. There will be in our meeting elements fraught with inevitable pain— pain from which we must neither of U .,shrinl- I shall not seek to cast stones, I know that I also have erred and done amiss. There is no anger in my heart against my boy—he has long been for- given, as I trust that my Father has for- given me. But he must come to me him- self. I will meet him with welcome and with love. But he must come of his own accord to the home and parent whom he left. That is my answer to your gentle and kindly plan. I am grateful; but when I meet my son after all these years, it must be just he and I together." And Elinor acquiesced with a sense of the fitness of things, whilst the appear- ance of Lois with a tray and glasses broke the confidential talk, which became general then, the old man's eyes dwelling upon the darsc-eyed soft-voiced girl with a curiously wistful gleam at times. Elinor was looking very pale, Lois thought, as she waited the arrival of her guests upon the following afternoon. She admitted to having slept ill the previous night, but would not hear of putting off the simple little entertainment. It was not to be at all formal. The small tables were brought into the garden. Lois had decorated them with flowers. The farm kitchen and storeroom supplied all manner of tempting dishes of home- baked cake or biscuit, jam and honey in the comb, golden butter, and cream almost as golden. A dish of very early straw- berries from beneath the tall south wall had rewarded Lois' careful search. The simple banquet looked particularly charm-' ing in its rustic setting. Elinor had by this time robed Lois in dainty white from her own overflowing stores of soft raiment little worn; and she herself had put on heliotrope of the softest shade, with cun- ning touches of black velvet and filmy white chiffon—a f rock which only Paris could have turned out in its extreme ele- gance of simplicity, and which Lois re- garded with great admiration, as it seemed to emphasize the supple slenderness of Elinor's tall figure and the soft tints of her pale, creamy skin. 11 Yoii look lovely! she exclaimed more than once, and I am so interested in the tale you told me last night about poor Lady Danecourt and her brother. How terrible it must have been for such a thing to happen—so far away from home and all. But at least she had you there to be her friend! How that must have helped and comforted r It must be so beautiful to be as you and generous, large- hearted and free 0 how I love you, dear, beautiful Miss Masham! If Elinor winced, Lois did not see it, keen as were the eyes of her great love. Her spirit was greatly stirred through thoughts which had been suggested to her alike by Elinor's little reminiscences of her past years of travel, and by good Prynne's cryptic remarks which she would never interpret as to the conduct of men in ,general and soldiers and ""adventurers'* in particular. Who was this Captain Darcy of whom both had spoken, and who upon the previous day had appeared and swept her away, whilst he took possession of her dear lady, as though lie had the first right? Did not Joy believe that once she had been betrothed—perhaps to him? If so, why not married? And why had he flashed again into her life unless, unless. These things were all so perplexing to the girl from the life of almost cloisteral seclusion. But how interesting! And here lie was again! A great motor-car had brought the party. Captain Darcy was handing out a lady,, robed in filmy black- ness. Another man was with them, who advanced eagerly up the path to greet Elinor. He was young, extremely hand- some, with a kindling smile which was winning in the extreme. Elinor greeted him kindly, presented him to Lois as Sir Roderic Danecourt, and turned to meet her other guests, whilst the first arrival, with his brilliantly blue eyes scanning Lois' sweet face, said: Why, what a wonderful world we seem to have come to! Here is another ideal house in its lovely setting! And most wonderful of all-to find here a friend! Yes, Miss Masham told me that yolf had met in some lovely place abroad. "This is far more lovely in my eyes. That is why my sister and I are settling here for a while. I hope you are doing the same." Ah, I hope so! I am happy here— with Miss Masham. If she were to leave perhaps she might not want me. I do not know. It was all so suddenly arranged- through her great goodness. But I must run now-to see about the tea. I am an employed person here. "Employ me then, press me into the service! Roderic pleaded. See how well those three are getting on together! We will be the useful working bees and leave the drone with the two queens! Look at them! You do not often see two such beautiful creatures together." < How lovely your sister is! spoke Lois, as she moved housewards with Roderic, but how sad her face looks also! That one can understand. Miss Masham told me the story." H Yes, my poor young sister has had a sad youth in some ways. But I want to make up to her for that. We both went through the mill for a year or two. No doubt it was good for me, though rough on her. Now I'm out just to make her young and happy again. Will you help me in this, Miss Enderby? She looked up half startled by the earnestness of his words, to confront an expression in his eyes which thrilled and yet perplexed her, as well it might. Love at first sight is not a pure fiction, though very rare in real life. But it Lad come to Roderic when he met the clear sweetness of Lois' upward glance and heard the low-voiced cadence of her very musical tones. Not that he absolutely knew this him- self; certainly the thought had not formu- lated itself in words. Nevertheless1 this place where she was seemed bathed :n sun- shine. The tea she poured out from the quaint lustre pot was to him the nectar of the gods. His sister and Elinor were ab- sorbed in talk, waited upon by Darcy. .7. He managed to create round himself and Lois an illusion of isolation infinitely de- And the moments fleV by on golden wings for him—perhaps also for her, little though. she guessed at the con- fusion of rainbow dreams formulating in the brain of her companion. For Elinor this hour was one of very poignant sensations. Stress of repressed emotion had flushed her cheek, brought an almost wild brightness into her shadowy grey eyes, so that her vanishing youth seemed to flow back and energise her; and into Laurence's eyes there crept a look which it was long since she had seen there —which made her heart beat with a force that was almost insupportable—and yet which was infinitely glorious. She had said to herself, a If I can see them together, I shall know." Well, she had them here together beside her- Alicia in her fragile loveliness, in the bloom of her four and twenty summers- Laurence in the- perennial glow of man- hood's strength and vigour, which she always felt would never with him fade or diminish—and he did not know! (To be continued.)

CHELMSFORD C.E.T.S. Two brightly written booklets Stave been issued for the coming winter's work of the Chelmsford C.E.T.S. One is calleli" Fruit- ful and Helpful Evenings in Essex," and the other Champions All." To the latter the Rev. Noel Mellish, V.C., con- tributes a helpful foreword. The former is a schedule for the coming season and contains schemes of work for Bands of Hope, for which there are competitions and prizes. The results of competitions for the past year are also given. The chairman of the Diocesan Juvenile Board says there is much to be thankful for in the past year. There has been a growing interest in the Band of Hope work, while the competitions have been the most bril- liant displays they have yet seen in the history of the diocese. This has, he says, been due to the magnificent work of Mr. Frank Brown, the late secretary, whose death is deplored. The Board has appre- ciated the faithful efforts of Miss Myers. To all the warmest thanks are due. The new organising secretary, Mr. W. Gordon Palmer, is welcomed. The Bishop of Chelmsford has appointed November 16 as Temperance Sunday. During a recent week 15 new branches were formed.

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