could be given a chance of redeeming his character by being employed on
the estate, Sir Edward's severity relaxed, and after a long conversation
with him he promised he would give him a trial.

He smiled grimly to himself as father and son left him with warm
expressions of gratitude.

"So that is the child's hero! One whose example I might well follow. He
has had the courage at last to take the step from which I am still
shrinking. Why should I fear that my welcome home would be less full of
love and forgiveness than his?"

It was Christmas eve, a wild and stormy day. The wind raged ceaselessly
round the old house, howling down the chimneys, and beating the branches
of the trees outside against the window panes.

Milly had been very busy for some hours helping Ford to decorate the
hall and rooms with holly and evergreen, though Ford would every now
and then pause in his work, saying:

"There, Miss Milly, I'm sure we're overdoing it. If the house was full
of company now, I would take a pride in it, but I don't believe the
master will notice whether it's done or not. It seems to me as he is
getting more and more shut up into hisself lately. Christmas is a dull
time with us."

All was finished at last, and Milly went up to the nursery and stood at
the window, her bright brown eyes eagerly scanning and taking note of
every object out of doors.