'Mother, what shall I do?' a child's voice said. 'Shall I sing?' The mother seemed to assent, for the child began-'The robin has fled from the wood

To the snug habitation of man.' This performance apparently attracted but little attention from the

child's companion, for the young voice suggested, as a new form of

entertainment, 'Shall I say my prayers?' 'Yes,' replied one whom Swithin had begun to recognize.

'Who shall I pray for?' No answer.

'Who shall I pray for?' 'Pray for father.' 'But he is gone to heaven?' A sigh from Viviette was distinctly audible.

'You made a mistake, didn't you, mother?' continued the little one.

'I must have. The strangest mistake a woman ever made!' Nothing more was said, and Swithin ascended, words from above indicating

to him that his footsteps were heard. In another half-minute he rose

through the hatchway. A lady in black was sitting in the sun, and the

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boy with the flaxen hair whom he had seen yesterday was at her feet.

'Viviette!' he said.

'Swithin!--at last!' she cried.

The words died upon her lips, and from very faintness she bent her head.

For instead of rushing forward to her he had stood still; and there

appeared upon his face a look which there was no mistaking.

Yes; he was shocked at her worn and faded aspect. The image he had

mentally carried out with him to the Cape he had brought home again as

that of the woman he was now to rejoin. But another woman sat before

him, and not the original Viviette. Her cheeks had lost for ever that

firm contour which had been drawn by the vigorous hand of youth, and the

masses of hair that were once darkness visible had become touched here

and there by a faint grey haze, like the Via Lactea in a midnight sky.

Yet to those who had eyes to understand as well as to see, the chastened

pensiveness of her once handsome features revealed more promising

material beneath than ever her youth had done. But Swithin was

hopelessly her junior. Unhappily for her he had now just arrived at an

age whose canon of faith it is that the silly period of woman's life is

her only period of beauty. Viviette saw it all, and knew that Time had

at last brought about his revenges. She had tremblingly watched and

waited without sleep, ever since Swithin had re-entered Welland, and it

was for this.

Swithin came forward, and took her by the hand, which she passively

allowed him to do.




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