[CHAPTER XXVIII.]
"THINK OF RACHEL."
Gwen came to stay at the Rectory. She was much impressed with two things. First she was terribly upset at the look of Rachel. She had had no idea that she had grown so thin and weak. It gave her quite a shock, and she felt disinclined to admire or appreciate anything of her surroundings.
But she was equally struck with the alteration in Luke. She could find nothing with which to find fault in his behaviour to Rachel. He was as thoughtful for her as before he had been negligent.
"What have you done to Luke to change him so?" she asked her sister one evening, as they were sitting in the garden after supper.
"I have done nothing, but you were blind."
"Then if you are not the cause of his alteration I must be," said Gwen. "I believe it was the talk I had with him when I told him the truth about himself. But I must confess I never expected it to have such an effect."
Rachel laughed.
"You had better not remind me of your delinquencies," she said. "I don't think I ever felt more angry with anyone in my life than I did with you that day. However I have forgiven you so we will say no more about it."
"One thing I can't understand," said Gwen. "What could have induced you to have that tiresome old lady to live with you? It isn't as if she were fond of you for I'm sure she rather dislikes you; that is to say if her manner to you means anything. Why did you let her come?"