Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-12-19
7ESSA.
CHAPTER XI.

"You will be welcome with or with
out Austen's permission" he had said
| fervently.
Tessa resolved to test the truth OF
the words. Hastily she thrust few
necessaries into her travelling bag, and
packed her dresses and clothes into
the large travelling trunk. 1t could be
sent after her at some future time,
she thought. AS she turned the key
! the flash of the diamond on her hand
caught her eye.
1t was not usual among the Friends
to exchange rings; but Austen, though
he laughed at the custom, had gratif-
ed Tessa's childish fancy for pretty
things and given her a ring she had
admired one day in jewelers.
window broad gold band with one
large diamond set in the centre.
There was fash of indignaz ttears in
Tessa's eyes as she drew this ring from
her finger, placed it in an envelope
and addressed it TO Austen. How we'll
she remembered the day on which he
had brought it home from town-the
loving words he whispered as he
placed it on her fnger-the kisses she
had given as her thanks! All, we'll,
it was all ended now! she thought.
She completed her preparations,
putting her bag carefully out of sight
in the wardrobe, and, having removed
all traces OF packing from the room,
drew up her chair to the window, and
sat looking out across the garden with
sad dreamy eyes! How pretty it
looked that summer afternoon, with
the sunshine pouring upon the trim
lawn, and the roses and lilies OF which
poor Mrs. Bevan had been so fond!
How many happy hours Tessa had
spent there with Austen during the
last few weeks! The tears rushed into
her eyes at the remembrance of them.
The carriages returned by-and-by
from the funeral. Tessa saw Austen,
looking very pale and stern, descend
and enter the house, and heard him
cross the hall and shut himself up in
! his study.
The day wore on; the guests who
had been invited TO the funeral depart
ed, and great silence fell upon. the
house. Tessa was startled out OF her
reverie at last by a low tap at the
door. At the sound her cheeks flushed
and her heart beat wildly. Perhaps
it was Austen-Austen who had re-
pented OF his harshness, and had
come willing to listen to the explana-
ton which she had offered and he had
refused to hear. HURRIED she rose
from her scat and opened the door;
but her heart sank again, and she
could not repress q faint cry of disap-
pointment, for it was not Austen who
stood there, but only the under house
maid.
"Oh, Mary, is it you?" she said.
"Yes, Miss Tessa."
All the servants were fond of Tessa,
and with this girl she was an especial
favorite; and now she looked pityingly
at Tessa's tear-stained face.
81 came to see il you wanted any
thing, miss. May bring you a cup
of tea and something to eatp You
have had nothing since breakfast, and
you are looking quite pale and ILL.,"
al have headache. Yes, you may
bring me some tea, please. Mary"
'And something to eat with It,,
missP There is to be no regular din
ner, to-day, for master and Mrs. CAL
lender dined early with the visitors;
but cook said l had to tell you she
would make some soup hot in a min
ute."
"Cook is very kind" Tessa, sud-
denly remembering the journey that
lay before her, and also that IL was
improbable she would get anything TO
eat until late at night felt grateful to
cook for the suggestion. IL should
like the soup"
"rhen I'll bring it at once, miss
Mary retired, and presently return
ed with tray containing a very
tempting little ropast; Tessa, who had
eaten very little in the past two days
felt her appetite return at the sight Of
it. She ate heartily, and thoroughly
enjoyed the cup of fragrant coffee
which concluded the meal. Mary look
ed on with satisfied eyes.
"There-you look better already,
miss! It's queer what a difference
food makes to ones feelings" she re-
marked philosophically. Il wish you
could persuade Mr.. Bevan to have
something, miss. He ate nothing ut
luncheon, and directly he came home
from the funeral he shut himself up
in his study-it is over the housekeep-
er's room, you know, miss-and we
can hear him walking up and down