She was in very good spirits that morning, for she expected her husband next day.

'I have told him nothing about the good fortune that has come to me, Nelly,' she said; 'I have only written to him, begging him to return as quickly as possible, and he will be here to-morrow by the afternoon express.' Mr.Holbrook is a great walker, and generally walks from Malsham here, by a shorter way than the high-road, across some fields and by the river-bank.

His wife used always to go part of the way to meet him when she knew he was coming.

I know she meant to go and meet him this time.

The way is very lonely, and I have often felt fidgety about her going alone, but she hadn't a bit of fear; and I didn't like to offer to go with her, feeling sure that Mr.Holbrook would be vexed by seeing me at such a time.