strongly as she saw how affectionately she was still welcomed.

She told all the little scraps of news she could think of; she arranged
on the mantelpiece some flowers she had brought in; finally, she found
the new Blackwood, and entertained both her old friend and herself so
well with it that two hours passed almost unperceived. Mr. Leigh's old
servant, coming in with his early dinner, interrupted them in the middle
of an interesting article, and reminded her that it was high time to go
home.

"I will come again to-morrow," she said, as she put aside her book, and
taking up her hat she hurried away.

As she walked up the lane, she could not help feeling a certain anxiety
to know whether there had been any visitors at home during her absence.
Mr. Percy often came in the morning, and if he had been there--

She ran up the verandah steps and into the parlour. Mrs. Costello sat
there alone, and two letters lay on the table.

"Here is a note for you," she said, as Lucia came in. "Mr. Percy brought
it."

"He has been here, then?" and she took up the note, not much caring to
open it when she saw Bella's writing.

"Yes. He came very soon after you were gone. He said he was coming to
say good-bye, and Bella asked him to bring that."

"To say good-bye?"