She left him, and went away with a step that did not echo the
promise of her words.

Joel, meanwhile, consulted apart with his mistress.

"Of course," she said, emphatically.--"You must stay until
morning, Lois. It is too late. Joel will toss you up a bed in
the loft."

The queer little body hesitated.

"I can stay," she said, at last. "It's his watch at the mill
to-night."

"Whose watch?" demanded Joel.

Her face brightened.

"Father's. He's back, mum."

Joel caught himself in a whistle.

"He's very stiddy, Joel,--as stiddy as yoh."

"I am very glad he has come back, Lois," said Mrs. Howth,
gravely.

At every place where Lois had been that day she had told her bit
of good news, and at every place it had been met with the same