"As still as a wee, wee mouse," put in the child, measuring the size with her fingers.

"And Bonnie has been the best of dogs. See, he has been holding up his paw ever since you came in!" Richard patted the dog's golden head and shook the extended paw. In his dumb way Bonnie was showing his sympathy for his master.

"I have certainly had the best of care. Everyone has been kindness itself. Our dear Rebekahs have been here daily. You see these beautiful roses? I have had them all along. The brothers, too, have been very attentive. Uncle Poly or Micah have slept here every night since you left. They said I must have a man in the house. But I am so glad to have my boy at home."

The soft brown eyes dwelt lovingly on his face. The intuition, born of mother-love detected a change; there was a tenderer quality in the deep voice, a softer light in the gray eyes so like his father's. She read what she had prayed might come before she should close her eyes in that deep sleep whose waking is only in the Great Beyond. The chastening fires of the master passion, Love, were smoldering within that nature deep and strong, consuming in their refining flames the elements of all unlike itself. The knowledge brought the glad tears to her eyes.

When Theo came at four o'clock to give Madam her potion, due at that hour, she took the little girl away with her so that mother and son might

be able to talk without reserve. The moments pressed into hours and still they conversed in low tones.

"And so Mr. Ogden could tell you all you

you wished to know before you called on her?" his mother asked.

"Yes, Mother; he had known the Germaines from the first of their coming to Denver; he and Mr. Lawton were boys together, the same as Micah and I. Oh, Mother, she is very dear!"

There was no need for further words: his mother knew, Love understands. A strange, sweet happiness filled the room. Throwing his arm across the top of the chair, he laid his face close to her pale cheek. She stroked the thick brown hair with gentle touch. How much she had to thank God for in this dear son! And now another thread had come into their loom of life, a thread that wound itself around the slender one that had been lightly laid beside their own on that night at Trowbridge Junction. The child, and now the mother! It would not be so hard to leave him if Bettina could come into the home and fill her place when she had passed away. She knew the call was very near, and the conviction that there would be one to cherish, love and honor him, her darling son, was like heavenly music to her ears.

"Will you write to Bettina for me, Richard? Write to-night: tell her I want to see her, dear. Tell her to come before the New Year breaks. My

love to her, and do not fail to emphasize my desire to see her soon."

"Yes, Mother mine, I will."

That night he wrote a letter to Bettina telling her his dear mother's wish, and also his own earnest desire that she should come to Norwood soon. The blessing of the little child, whose hand had drawn the unseen cords that bound them together in an all-absorbing love, sped with it on the waves of thought, to plead the common cause.

CHAPTER VIII

MIRIAM FINDS BETTYMUZ

IT

T had been arranged that the coming of Bettina to Norwood should be in the nature of a surprise to Miriam, and that the mother and child should meet for the first time at Stonyhurst. Madam had been losing ground, the Doctor said, and what would naturally be a very exciting event to the little girl had better not take place at Ledgelawn.

When Bettina received Richard's letter, she wrote at once to Theo for more particulars regarding Madam's condition. The sister and brother together weighed the matter carefully, and agreed that the sooner she came to Norwood the better it would be for all concerned. Madam did not suffer, no complaint escaped her lips, but she lay in her chair with her face toward the west, her eyes growing larger and more spiritual in their expression as day passed after day. Her smile often rested with angelic sweetness on the little curly-haired child who seldom left her side. Garnet relieved Melissa of the work below stairs so

that the maid could be more with Madam and minister to her wants.

When Bettina wrote that she should leave Denver within a fortnight, Richard at once communicated with Mr. Ogden. That gentleman called on her, and in a fatherly way took upon himself the responsibility of advising her.

"The time has come, it now appears, when you can in a measure repay with loving service the care that Madam Denman has bestowed upon your little daughter. I should go there with the intention of remaining as long as you feel that you are valuable to them," he said. And so the piano was sent back to the firm from which she rented it, and the few household belongings she had kept from other years, to the storage warehouse.

At last the day came when her keys were surrendered to Mrs. Noyes, and with the old familiar suit case once more in hand, she turned her footsteps toward the station, there to take the train for Chicago and the East.

It was late in the evening when Bettina reached Norwood. Richard accompanied by Theo met her with the carriage and together they drove to Stonyhurst where Bettina was to spend the night. In the morning, after the meeting with Miriam was over, together they would go to Ledgelawn and Madam.

The morning dawned clear as crystal. A flurry of snow during the night had left a transparent