CHAPTER XXXV. WHEREIN MATTERS MAKE SOME PROGRESS, BUT NOT MUCH.

nlesstwilightforthoughkeenlyfreezingwithadry,blackfrost,heavenworeamaskofcloudscongealedandfastlocked.Themill-damtoowasfrozen.TheHollowwasverystill.Indoorsitwasalreadydark.Sarahhadlitagoodfireintheparlourshewaspreparingteainthekitchen. "Hortense,"saidMoore,ashissisterbustleduptohelphimoffwithhiscloak,"Iampleasedtocomehome." Hortensedidnotfeelthepeculiarnoveltyofthisexpressioncomingfromherbrother,whohadneverbeforecalledthecottagehishome,andtowhomitsnarrowlimitshadalwaysheretoforeseemedratherrestrictivethanprotective.Still,whatevercontributedtohishappinesspleasedher,andsheexpressedherselftothateffect. Hesatdown,butsoonroseagain.Hewenttothewindowhecamebacktothefire. "Hortense!" "Monfrère?" "Thislittleparlourlooksverycleanandpleasant—unusuallybright,somehow." "Itistrue,brotherIhavehadthewholehousethoroughlyandscrupulouslycleanedinyourabsence." "Sister,Ithinkonthisfirstdayofyourreturnhomeyououghttohaveafriendorsototea,ifitwereonlytoseehowfreshandspruceyouhavemadethelittleplace." "True,brother.IfitwerenotlateImightsendforMissMann." "Soyoumightbutitreallyistoolatetodisturbthatgoodlady,andtheeveningismuchtoocoldforhertocomeout." "Howthoughtfulinyou,dearGérard!Wemustputitofftillanotherday." "Iwantsomeoneto-day,dearsister—somequietguest,whowouldtireneitherofus." "MissAinley?" "Anexcellentperson,theysaybutshelivestoofaroff.TellHarryScotttostepuptotherectorywitharequestfromyouthatCarolineHelstoneshouldcomeandspendtheeveningwithyou." "Woulditnotbebetterto-morrow,dearbrother?" "Ishouldlikehertoseetheplaceasitisjustnowitsbrilliantcleanlinessandperfectneatnessaresomuchtoyourcredit." "Itmightbenefitherinthewayofexample." "Itmightandmustsheoughttocome." Hewentintothekitchen. "Sarah,delayteahalfanhour."HethencommissionedhertodispatchHarryScotttotherectory,givingheratwistednotehastilyscribbledinpencilbyhimself,andaddressed"MissHelstone." ScarcelyhadSarahtimetogetimpatientunderthefearofdamagetohertoastalreadypreparedwhenthemessengerreturned,andwithhimtheinvitedguest. Sheenteredthroughthekitchen,quietlytrippedupSarah'sstairstotakeoffherbonnetandfurs,andcamedownasquietly,withherbeautifulcurlsnicelysmoothed,hergracefulmerinodressanddelicatecollaralltrimandspotless,hergaylittlework-baginherhand.ShelingeredtoexchangeafewkindlywordswithSarah,andtolookatthenewtortoise-shellkittenbaskingonthekitchenhearth,andtospeaktothecanary-bird,whichasuddenblazefromthefirehadstartledonitsperchandthenshebetookherselftotheparlour. Thegentlesalutation,thefriendlywelcome,wereinterchangedinsuchtranquilsortasbefittedcousinsmeetingasenseofpleasure,subtleandquietasaperfume,diffuseditselfthroughtheroomthenewly-kindledlampburntupbrightthetrayandthesingingurnwerebroughtin. "Iampleasedtocomehome,"repeatedMr.Moore. Theyassembledroundthetable.Hortensechieflytalked.ShecongratulatedCarolineontheevidentimprovementinherhealth.Hercolourandherplumpcheekswerereturning,sheremarked.Itwastrue.TherewasanobviouschangeinMissHelstone.Allaboutherseemedelasticdepression,fear,forlornness,werewithdrawn.Nolongercrushed,andsaddened,andslow,anddrooping,shelookedlikeonewhohadtastedthecordialofheart'sease,andbeenliftedonthewingofhope. AfterteaHortensewentupstairs.Shehadnotrummagedherdrawersforamonthpast,andtheimpulsetoperformthatoperationwasnowbecomeresistless.DuringherabsencethetalkpassedintoCaroline'shands.Shetookitupwitheaseshefellintoherbesttoneofconversation.Apleasingfacilityandeleganceoflanguagegavefreshcharmtofamiliartopicsanewmusicinthealwayssoftvoicegentlysurprisedandpleasinglycaptivatedthelistenerunwontedshadesandlightsofexpressionelevatedtheyoungcountenancewithcharacter,andkindleditwithanimation. "Caroline,youlookasifyouhadheardgoodtidings,"saidMoore,afterearnestlygazingatherforsomeminutes. "DoI?" "IsentforyouthiseveningthatImightbecheeredbutyoucheermemorethanIhadcalculated." "Iamgladofthat.AndIreallycheeryou?" "Youlookbrightly,movebuoyantly,speakmusically." "Itispleasanttobehereagain." "TrulyitispleasantIfeelitso.Andtoseehealthonyourcheekandhopeinyoureyeispleasant,Carybutwhatisthishope,andwhatisthesourceofthissunshineIperceiveaboutyou?" "Foronet