CHAPTER IV.
NOT many days passed away ere Gilbert, to
the great delight of his sisters and the great
joy of his parents, returned home from college.
A contented, thankful household retired to rest
that evening at the Grange : once more they
had met in safety. The bond of love had
been strengthened rather than diminished by
the temporary absence of Gilbert; the pride
and darling of the household had returned
unscathed from the temptations and dangers
of a college life.
 Miss Campbell's school had not broken up
for the holidays, and, in consequence, Grace
and Edith did not see so much of their
brother as they wished, and the long summer
evenings and half-holidays were the more
highly prized. It was one beautiful Saturday
afternoon, the sun was too bright and scorching
for the children to go out, and Edith had gone
into the nursery to play with Herbert, while
Grace was busying herself in her own room,
emptying drawers, and arranging and looking
over various odds and ends of treasure. It
had previously been settled that Gilbert