sit on his knee, with my arms round his neck, while
he smoked his pipe by the chimney-corner! I cannot
write any more, for Kitty is getting cross, and wants
both pen and paper. She shall kiss the letter before I
send it.—LETTY."

Grace went quietly about her work all
morning, with the letter in her bosom, thinking
the matter over, and asking herself what
had best be done. As soon as dinner was
over, she went down into Heatherslack, to
the minister's house; and finding Mr. Drayton
at home, asked for the loan of two sovereigns:
a favour which he readily granted. To the
two sovereigns thus obtained Grace added
one of her own, the only one she had; and
obtaining an order for the amount, sent it off
by that night's post, with a brief but loving
letter to Letty, bidding her pay her little
debts, and then come down by railway as far
as she could, and take the coach thence on to
Heatherslack, where Grace would meet her,
on her writing to say what day she would be
there, and would conduct her home, after
breaking the news to her father. This plan
was the best that Grace could think of; for,
knowing the sternness of her father's
disposition, and how obstinately he stuck to any
line of conduct on which he had determined,
she was afraid of appealing to his feelings
from a letter only, and thought that the sight
of his long-lost child would have a power
over him a hundred-fold greater than
anything else.

Five days elapsed, but brought no answer
from Letty. Grace began to grow anxious.
The weather was very bleak. For the last
fortnight, a black frost had held the earth in
its iron grip. There had been neither rain
nor snow, but a dull heavy sky, and a wind
that pierced to your very marrow. For three
evenings back, Grace had met the coach,
which reached Heatherslack about six o'clock;
and as often had she turned away disappointed
at not finding the wished-for form. To-morrow
would be Christmas-day. Surely, thought
Grace, my sister will come this evening—I
feel sure that she will; and we shall all spend
a happy Christmas-day together, as we used
to do years ago. But Thurston will not be
here. He is far away across the sea. When
will he come back!

In spite of the frost and the wind, and as
if in defiance of them, her father had been
better and heartier for the last few weeks
than for months before; and when, after
dinner, she put on her cloak and set out
for Heatherslack, to purchase a few simple
luxuries for to-morrow's feast, she left him
cheerfully: trusting to come back with tidings
that would make his heart beat warm and
high. He was seated in his great arm-chair,
near the fire, smoking his pipe: silent, as he
usually was, but still with a cheerful look
about him, she thought, as she paused for a
moment to take a last glance, before closing
the door. She noticed, as soon as she got out,
that the sky looked heavier than usual, and
that the wind had dropped, and the weather had
become much warmer. "We shall have snow
before the night's over," she said to herself, as
she hastened down toward the village. She
had several little purchases to make, and a
sick friend to call upon, so that the afternoon
wore away faster than she thought; and it
was nearly dark, and the snow had begun to
come down thick and fast, before she was
ready to return home. As the hour was so
late, and the weather was so bad, she determined
to wait for the coach, instead of going
home, and then coming back to Heatherslack,
as she at first intended. Her father would
not require her presence for an hour or two,
so it would not matter.

Thicker and faster the snow came down,
and darkness fell over hill and dale. Still
old Mark sat composedly before the fire;
never moving, except to replenish it with
some pieces of turf, or to glance at the
weather without. He must have fallen
unconsciously into a nap; for, when he woke
up, it was quite dark outside; and would
have been in the room also, but for the
cheerful blaze of the fire, which threw a
glancing fitful light into every corner. Was
that some one knocking at the door? Surely
it must be. Where was Grace ? Why was
she not come home before now ? It was long
past tea-time, as she must be aware. Another
knock.

"Come in!" he gruffly exclaimed; and
turned round to see who the unusual visitor
could be.

Slowly the door opened, and on the
threshold, stood a ghastly, tottering figure,
hooded with snow, clasping something to its
bosom.

"Father, forgive me!" was all that she
said, in dreary, heart-broken accents.

The old man had recognised her in a
moment; and now stood up, trembling, but
still looking as cold and grim as though he
were carved in stone.

"What, thou art come back, art thou?"
he exclaimed, in hoarse, passionate tones. " I
knew it would be so, when thy sweetheart
tired of thee. If it is money thou wantest,
thou shalt have it: but, begone, and let me
see thy face no more!"

"O, father, have mercy!"

"There is no mercy for such as thou! I
disown thee! Thou art no daughter of
mine; so away, away!"

"Have mercy on my child!"

"Thy child! Thy disgrace! Come not
near me, I say! Step not over my threshold!
I have vowed that this roof shall never
cover thee again; and now I swear it once
more; so— so— "

What was it that suddenly came over him—
that took away, in one brief moment, his
power of utterance, and the strength from
his limbs; and caused him to drop helplessly
into his chair, with an inarticulate moan?

But Letty saw not the terrible change that