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with a southerly wind bringing an occasional splash of rain across the bay.

“I don’t think the showers will be much,” said Rhoda Hemingway. “We can put the hood up if it gets any worse, but we’ll see better with it down.”

The meet was on the property of a sheep-farmer whose place was about eight miles away amongst the foothills; and as the big car left the town behind, and sped along the road inland, Ann, cozily tucked up in rugs behind the windscreens, with her fur collar pulled up to her ears, felt a sense of exhilaration and delight. How foolish she would have been to have refused this invitation! She wouldn’t allow any shadows to darken her mind today—the fresh south wind should blew them all away! The two litte boys chattered beside her. Mrs. Ford turned very often to speak to the three in the back seat; and Rhoda, without taking her eye off the road, occasionally joined in the conversation.

In spite of her ended love-dream, and the dread of the trial ahead, for today at least, Ann knew she was happy. She was thankful for these good friends, and their unremitting kindness; and she knew that time would dull all heartache, and that whatever the future held, she would not be defeated by it. Suppose Vera did succeed in obtaining a divorce on such flimsy evidence, would Holmes then think himself bound to offer himself as a possible husband to the co-respondent? Ann smiled at such a fantastic thought, as she saw herself installed as stepmother to Biddy and Jo. She’d try to be a kind stepmother at any rate! How ridiculous to think of herself in this position!

“We shan’t see the actual meet,” said Rhoda. “We’re too late—but we’re bound to pick them up