"Everything is my fault. Auntie Wolfe," sobbed Nancy, "I'm afraid you will never care for me any more, nor trust me: everyone will think me so secretive, and deceitful,—and so I was!"
"It will be all right, my dear, if only Derek recovers, and you make him happy,—as I believe you can. By and by you will both come home, and settle among us,—and your strange story will be forgotten."
As soon as Captain Mayne was convalescent, he and his wife travelled down to Fairplains, where they were the guests of Mr. and Mrs. Dawson; and in that familiar and unchanged verandah, he once more occupied his favourite shabby chair, and surveyed from his place, the dim blue plains. All the neighbours and employees flocked to the bungalow, to hail and welcome Nancy. Francis received his "Little Missy" with rapturous joy, and a few trickling tears.—As for Togo, that faithful heart was always hers.
When Miss Travers, at a few hours' notice, had hurried out to India, to marry, and nurse, Captain Mayne; it was generally believed that this was but the romantic sequel, to a long and mysterious engagement.
Not more than two or three hundred people are in possession of the truth!
THE END
By the same Author
Each in Cloth