not hear. He hurried Clara down the garden and into the carriage,
and she had her last nod from Miss Faithfull at the open window.
Miss Mercy was at the station, whither school-hours had hindered
James from accompanying them, but where they found Lord Ormersfield
and Louis.

The warm-hearted little woman was all tears and smiles. 'Oh! dear
Mrs. Frost, I am so sorry, and yet it is selfish. I am so happy! but
where shall we find such another neighbour?'

'Come and see us. You know you are to persuade your sister.'

'Ah!' She shook her head. 'Salome is hard to move. But you--you
are such a traveller--you will come to see Mr. James?'

'I'm eighty to-morrow: I little expect to make any more journeys
except one, Mercy. I never look to see poor Northwold more; but it
has been a place of blessings to me, and you have been one of them.
Don't think I'm too glad to go away, but I cannot but be thankful
that my dear boy is bringing me home to lay me down where my father
and his father lie.'

It was said with that peculiar cheerfulness with which happy old age
can contemplate the end of the pilgrimage, and she looked at Louis
with a sunny smile.




CHAPTER VIII.