"Ah, I see, and your sister will need you. You have my deepest sympathy, my friend; if there is anything I can do to lighten her burden—or yours——"
"Thank you, Mr. Castlemaine, you are always very good."
"But you will remember what I have said?"
"Yes, thank you, I will remember; but at present she only needs me. You don't mind my hurrying away, do you? Good-bye."
"I shall go with you to the station," said Mr. Castlemaine. "You cannot leave for two hours yet."
"And I will go too," said Olive. "I am so sorry you are going, Mr. Sackville."
Her words were more than an empty convention, and the minister felt it. His heart had gone out with a great pity towards the girl whom he had baptized as a baby, whom he had romped with as a child, and whom he had received into the Church in after years. He loved her almost as much as John Castlemaine himself, and no one had sympathised with her more deeply than he.
"Thank you, Olive," he said. "Do you know what I've been thinking about all the morning?"
The girl was silent.
"I am sure it's right," he said, "God never makes a mistake."