‘Nor even by living for them, Clara,’ said James; ’you must live for something else.’

Lord Ormersfield had heard these few last words, and there was deep thought in his eye as he bade his cousins farewell at the hall door.

Clara was the last to take her place; and, as she turned round with a merry smile to wish him goodbye, he said, ’You have been making yourself very useful, Clara, I am afraid you have had no time to enjoy yourself.’

‘That’s a contradiction,’ said Clara, laughing; ’here’s busy little Kitty, who never is thoroughly happy but when she thinks she is useful, and I am child enough to be of the same mind.  I never was unhappy but when I was set to enjoy myself.  It has been the most beautiful day of my life.  Thank you for it.  Goodbye!’

The Earl crossed the hall, and found Mary standing alone on the terrace steps, looking out at the curling smoke from the cottage chimneys, and on the coppices and hedge-rows.

‘Are you tired, my dear?’ he said.

’Oh no!  I was only thinking of dear mamma’s persuading Louis to go on with the crumpled plans of those cottages.  How happy she would be.’

‘I was thinking of her likewise,’ said the Earl.  ’She spoke truly when she told me that he might not be what I then wished to make him, but something far better.’

Mary looked up with a satisfied smile of approval, saying, ’I am so glad you think so.’

‘Yes,’ said Lord Ormersfield, ’I have thought a good deal since.  I have been alone here, and I think I see why Louis has done better than some of his elders.  It seems to me that some of us have not known the duties that lay by the way-side, so to speak, from the main purpose of life.  I wish I could talk it over with your mother, my dear, what do you think she would say?’

Mary thought of Louis’s vision of the threads.  ‘I think,’ she said, ’that I have heard her say something like it.  The real aim of life is out of sight, and even good people are too apt to attach themselves to what is tangible, like friendship or family affection, or usefulness, or public spirit; but these are like the paths of glory which lead but to the grave, and no farther.  It is the single-hearted, faithful aim towards the one thing needful, to which all other things may be added as mere accessories.  It brings down strength and wisdom.  It brings the life everlasting already to begin in this life, and so makes the path shine more and more unto the perfect day!’

THE END.