‘See, my dear,’ she said, as she entered Mrs. Pettifer’s parlour; ’I’ve brought you your black clothes.  Robert’s not at home, and is not coming till this evening.  I couldn’t find your best black gown, but this will do.  I wouldn’t bring anything else, you know; but there can’t be any objection to my fetching clothes to cover you.  You can go to Paddiford Church, now, if you like; and I will go with you.’

’That’s a dear mother!  Then we’ll all three go together.  Come and help me to get ready.  Good little Mrs. Crewe!  It will vex her sadly that I should go to hear Mr. Tryan.  But I must kiss her, and make it up with her.’

Many eyes were turned on Janet with a look of surprise as she walked up the aisle of Paddiford Church.  She felt a little tremor at the notice she knew she was exciting, but it was a strong satisfaction to her that she had been able at once to take a step that would let her neighbours know her change of feeling towards Mr. Tryan:  she had left herself now no room for proud reluctance or weak hesitation.  The walk through the sweet spring air had stimulated all her fresh hopes, all her yearning desires after purity, strength, and peace.  She thought she should find a new meaning in the prayers this morning; her full heart, like an overflowing river, wanted those ready-made channels to pour itself into; and then she should hear Mr. Tryan again, and his words would fall on her like precious balm, as they had done last night.  There was a liquid brightness in her eyes as they rested on the mere walls, the pews, the weavers and colliers in their Sunday clothes.  The commonest things seemed to touch the spring of love within her, just as, when we are suddenly released from an acute absorbing bodily pain, our heart and senses leap out in new freedom; we think even the noise of streets harmonious, and are ready to hug the tradesman who is wrapping up our change.  A door had been opened in Janet’s cold dark prison of self-despair, and the golden light of morning was pouring in its slanting beams through the blessed opening.  There was sunlight in the world; there was a divine love caring for her; it had given her an earnest of good things:  it had been preparing comfort for her in the very moment when she had thought herself most forsaken.

Mr. Tryan might well rejoice when his eye rested on her as he entered his desk; but he rejoiced with trembling.  He could not look at the sweet hopeful face without remembering its yesterday’s look of agony; and there was the possibility that that look might return.

Janet’s appearance at church was greeted not only by wondering eyes, but by kind hearts, and after the service several of Mr. Tryan’s hearers with whom she had been on cold terms of late, contrived to come up to her and take her by the hand.

‘Mother,’ said Miss Linnet, ’do let us go and speak to Mrs. Dempster I’m sure there’s a great change in her mind towards Mr. Tryan.  I noticed how eagerly she listened to the sermon, and she’s come with Mrs. Pettifer, you see.  We ought to go and give her a welcome among us.’