"But you shouldn't let it, Doris."
"Do you forgive me, Felicia?"
"Of course. We will try to be better friends in future. Come out into the garden now, or Molly will be returning in search of us."
So there was peace between the cousins, and Doris really did try to curb her jealousy of Felicia, and though she did not succeed all at once, it grew less and less as time went on. She ceased making little spiteful speeches in reference to Felicia's former life, and in many ways endeavoured to make up to her cousin for the petty annoyances she had caused her to endure in the past.
During the first week of October Mr. Guy went to London to the nursing-home, where it had been arranged he should stay for the next two months. His father accompanied him, and left him in charge of the celebrated doctor who had undertaken his case. For several weeks after his return to the Priory, Mr. Renford lived in dread lest he would hear his son had determined to come home; but as the days passed by and no such tidings reached him, his spirits began to rise, and one morning brought a letter which informed him the invalid really considered the treatment he was receiving was doing him good. Great was the rejoicing both at the Priory and the Vicarage on that day; and when further letters came with continued cheerful reports, Mr. Renford's delight was boundless, and he now dared look forward to his son's returning in better health.
December brought Mr. Guy back to the Priory. He had desired no fuss should be made of his homecoming, and accordingly none was made. Felicia, on her return from the Vicarage one afternoon, was informed of her uncle's arrival, and that he desired to see her in his own sitting-room. Thither she hastened at once, and found him resting in an easy-chair by the blazing fire, with his father standing on the hearth-rug, and Lion lying contentedly at his feet. Felicia flew across the room to his side, and flinging her arms around his neck, kissed him again and again—nearly smothering him, as he afterwards declared—then she drew back and gazed at him, exclaiming—
"Oh, grandfather, he does look better, doesn't he?"
"Much better," Mr. Renford agreed, his face beaming with pleasure; "and you feel it, don't you, Guy?"
"I do; and the doctor says the improvement in my health is likely to be permanent. I have had no pain for weeks."
"I am so glad of that," Felicia said fervently; "for that is the greatest blessing, isn't it?"