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I

As the weeks went by Maggie's faint uneasiness disappeared She was one of those fortunate persons who, possessing what are known as nerves, are aware of the possession, and discount their effects accordingly

That uneasiness had cul as she sat with the old lady after tea--in a sudden touch of terror at she knew not what

"What is the gie was reading, but it appeared that Mrs Baxter had noticed her lower her book suddenly, with an odd expression

Maggie had blinked aof Laurie; I don't knohy"

But since then she had been able to reassure herself Her fancies were but fancies, she told herself; and they had ceased to trouble her The boy's letters to hisfairly hard; his coach was as pleasant a person as he had seemed; he hoped to run down to Stantons for a few days at Christ whatever to alarm anyone; plainly his ridiculous attitude about Spiritualis to recover himself after his sorrow in September

It was an extraordinarily peaceful and uneventful life that the two led together--the kind of life that strengthens previous proclivities and adds no new ones; that brings out the fra water clears the buried roots of a tree This was all very well for Mrs Baxter, whose character was already fully formed, it irl, though the process was pleasant enough

After Mass and breakfast she spent thelittle extra details of the house--gardening plans, the poultry, and so forth--and reading what she cared to The afternoon was devoted to the old lady's airing; the evening till dinner to anything she wished; and after dinner again to gentle conversation Very little happened The Vicar and his wife dined there occasionally, and still ue entertaine schoolroom, in an atmosphere of ink and hair-oil, and a aiety connected with the big houses round Mrs Baxter occasionally put in appearances, a dignified and aristocratic old figure with her gentle eyes and black lace veil; and Maggie ith her

The pleasure of this life grew steadily upon Maggie She was one of that fraction of the world that finds entertaindom of God, within She did not in the least wish to be "amused" or stimulated and distracted She was perfectly and serenely content with the fowls, the garden, her sion, and herself