“A great green donkey!” thought Afy to herself, bending on him, however the sweetest smile.

Rather.  But Mr. Jiffin is not the only great donkey in the world.

Richard Hare, meanwhile, had entered his mother’s presence.  She was sitting at the open window, the justice opposite to her, in an invalid chair, basking in the air and the sun.  This last attack of the justice’s had affected the mind more than the body.  He was brought down to the sitting-room that day for the first time; but, of his mind, there was little hope.  It was in a state of half imbecility; the most wonderful characteristic being, that all its self-will, its surliness had gone.  Almost as a little child in tractability, was Justice Hare.

Richard came up to his mother, and kissed her.  He had been to East Lynne.  Mrs. Hare took his hand and fondly held it.  The change in her was wonderful; she was a young and happy woman again.

“Barbara has decided to go to the seaside, mother.  Mr. Carlyle takes her on Monday.”

“I am glad, my dear, it will be sure to go her good.  Richard”—­bending over to her husband, but still retaining her son’s hand—­“Barbara has agreed to go to the seaside, I will set her up.”

“Ay, ay,” nodded the justice, “set her up.  Seaside?  Can’t we go?”

“Certainly, dear, if you wish it; when you shall be a little stronger.”

“Ay, ay,” nodded the justice again.  It was his usual answer now.  “Stronger.  Where’s Barbara?”

“She goes on Monday, sir,” said Richard, likewise bending his head.  “Only for a fortnight.  But they talk of going again later in the autumn.”

“Can’t I go, too?” repeated the justice, looking pleadingly in Richard’s face.

“You shall, dear father.  Who knows but a month or two’s bracing would bring you quite round again?  We might go all together, ourselves and the Carlyles.  Anne comes to stay with us next week, you know, and we might go when her visit is over.”

“Aye, all go together.  Anne’s coming?”

“Have you forgotten, dear Richard?  She comes to stay a month with us, and Mr. Clitheroe and the children.  I am so pleased she will find you better,” added Mrs. Hare, her gentle eyes filling.  “Mr. Wainwright says you may go out for a drive to-morrow.”

“And I’ll be coachman,” laughed Richard.  “It will be the old times come round again.  Do you remember, father, my breaking the pole, one moonlight night, and your not letting me drive for six months afterwards?”

The poor justice laughed in answer to Richard, laughed till the tears ran down his face, probably not knowing in the least what he was laughing at.

“Richard,” said Mrs. Hare to her son, almost in an apprehensive tone, her hand pressing his nervously, “was not that Afy Hallijohn I saw you speaking with at the gate?”

“Did you?  What a spectacle she had made of herself!  I wonder she is not ashamed to go through the streets in such a guise!  Indeed, I wonder she shows herself at all.”