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Yes—Ann understood. With a little warm glow at her heart she realized that this was Vera’s gesture of reconciliation.

“I’ll post it up to her today.”

“Thanks very much. I say—some day soon you’ll have to come up and spend a week or two at Tirau with us.”

“Yes, I’d love to—later. Hope you’ll have a good trip up.”

“I’m sure we shall. It’s a wonderful day. Good-by—and good luck.”

A “wonderful day”! No other phrase so adequately expressed Ann’s feelings at the moment. The shadow was gone! She felt like a prisoner suddenly released. She was free again. Free from suspense, and that haunting worry of the future. She could take her place again amongst her fellow-citizens without the consciousness of furtive glances, and unpleasant whispers. Oh, joy, just to be alive today! Even the sorrow of disappointed love seemed to lose its sting in this overwhelming relief of mind. And not only was it for her own sake that she rejoiced. She knew that an immense burden of anxiety had been lifted from Dick Holmes’s shoulders, and that Vera too was setting her face in the only direction in which she could find any chance of ultimate happiness.

As soon as Mrs. Hill and Ruth arrived, Ann left them in possession, and made her way along to Ford’s office. He had already received the letter from Holmes.

“So the whole matter’s going to be dropped,” he said. “I felt sure from the first that it would be. A fit of pique on Mrs. Holmes’s part in the beginning, I imagine. She was probably jealous of her husband’s