Four Gates by Amy Le Feuvre

"Those who bring sunshine into the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves."

"IT is so exceedingly selfish of her. As if her mother could want her more than I do! And I more than half believe that it is Pauline Erskine's doing. I have noticed that ever since Anna and she have been such thick friends, there has been this crank in Anna's mind about her mother wanting her. If Mrs. Paton is ill, she is surrounded by people who can wait upon her. Mother and daughter never could get on together, and I am sure Anna is not wanted."

Mrs. Broughton was in her husband's study nearly crying with annoyance and worry because Miss Paton was at last packing up her boxes to go to her mother.

Mrs. Paton had been ailing for some time, and Anna Paton had told her friend plainly that unless she got better, she must go to the boarding-house and nurse her.

"I'm not going to have strangers do for her when she has a daughter living. Mother well and mother ill are two very different people. My conscience has been pricking me a long time about her. When I see Miss Erskine so happy and bright, and contrast her mother with mine, I'm ashamed of myself. And I've come to the conclusion with her that we're not made to leave the stony paths untrodden."

Mrs. Broughton had flounced away from her friend in pettish fury at this. And she was now pouring her griefs into her husband's ears.

"It is most inconsiderate and-and hateful of Anna. I have given her such a good time here, and introduced her to all my friends and treated her as a sister. And all her gratitude comes to this! I don't believe she cares twopence about me. Cook gave me warning this morning, and Chatty is in bed with a heavy cold. I am feeling bad myself and ought to be in bed-I know I ought."

"We must have Honor back," said Mr. Broughton, with relief and decision in his tone, as he thought of the one way of escape from all his wife's complaints. "I will write to her at once, my dear. Mrs. Montmorency will quite understand that the claims of her own family must come first."

"Oh, I am sick of that expression," said Mrs. Broughton impatiently; "that's what Anna keeps saying. I suppose we must have Honor back. I only hope her stay away has improved her temper. Tell her she must come at once. I'm feeling very far from well, and when Anna leaves, I know I shall collapse. It is too much for anyone's nerves!"

So Mr. Broughton wrote an affectionate letter to Honor, which was returned to him in two days' time with a very angry one from Mrs. Montmorency.

And Honor's letter to her father arrived by the same post.

"MY DEAREST FATHER,

"I hardly know how to write to you, but since I have been up here, I have met with someone who wishes to marry me. He is a widower, of good Scotch birth, and has one darling little girl who has no one to care for her or look after her. He is bound to go back almost immediately to America, and has persuaded me to marry him at once and accompany him out there. I would not do it if I thought you wanted me home. But Emily told me very distinctly at Christmas time that you had all been very much happier without me. I am sorry that she and I do not pull better together. But I am comforted by feeling that my place has been filled up by someone who suits you all better than I do. I am afraid you will miss the part of my salary which I send home. But I have no doubt that Mrs. Montmorency will send you my last quarter's money, which is due now. Please tell her that I wish it. And from what I gather Mr. Selkirk-the one I am going to marry-has plenty of means of his own, and I may be able to help you better as a married woman than I did before.

"Dear father, wish me happiness and pray for me, and tell the little ones that I shall never forget them, and when I have a home in England I shall hope to see them again. -Your loving daughter.

"HONOR."

Pauline also received that morning a hasty note from the runaway, and she sat gazing at it in perfect bewilderment until the sudden entrance of Amabel Osborne roused her.

"My dear Pauline, have you heard the news? The whole village is full of it. There have been awful scenes at the Rectory, I believe, and Mrs. Broughton has retired to bed in hysterics. I had to go to the church with the flowers, and I met Mr. Broughton looking quite aged. As you know, they were expecting to have Honor back this week. Miss Paton has left them, and Honor is married and on her way to America."

"I have heard," said Pauline slowly. "Poor Honor! I only hope she has not taken the step too hastily."

She looked again at the pathetic little note lying in her lap.

"DEAREST PAULINE,