Modern Broods

in my field where

rett Br

whose sympathy she could rely. Their conversations had been very precious to her, and she felt desolate without the entire companionship. Yet, on the other hand, she felt as if she could have begun be

atching the fly go down the hill

rrow we can arrange our day and see what work to do. Thekla, when you have had a run round th

er, it is

your holiday time cannot last for ever.

ll; they ar

ck boots, for the grass is still very wet, and explore the country. The same advice to you

o much to do," said Agatha,

not being ordered about; and the other two followed su

unpacking plans could not conveniently be begun; and while Agatha wa

of a bicycle in the stable, and a dear littl

as got it for us, she is a

his name, and I can ride him! Do come, Flapsy, and see! Earwaker will show y

he oil and which does

ngue wants both

ncerted by being laughed at; and Vera came, only asserti

he tiny farm-court, containing accommodation for two cows, a pig, and sundry fowls. There was a shed attached with a wicker pony carr

Vera. Magdalen came out during the

ever told us o

l Mansell," she said, "and he took gr

you b

o use it much here, unless the road is good. Those rocks, freshly lai

oo much vexed to mention Thekla's version of t

ways snowed, or rained, or skated, I mean we skated, or somethi

aths; and hire one perhaps, by the time the stones are passable. Just a

egree of complacency, while Thekla was enraptured at

lfish old thing, it is only an excuse! Of course we should take ca

alen thought of the rules of convents forbidding the appropriation of personal trifles, and wondered if it were wise, if stern; but for the present she decided that it could not be her duty to risk what had been carefully and kindly selected for

ink we might go to Rock Quay this afternoon, between the pony carriage and Shanks's mare. I want

Thank you, but it is not worth whi

enough in the country-town atmosphere to be foolishly disgusted at being obliged to dine early. That they had always been used to it made the

etables, and they were not disposed to good temper when they sat down to their meal. "They" perhaps properly means the middle

two ponies, was seen at the gate, too late for the barbarian instinct of rushing away to hide from morning visitors to

Lady Merrifield as she shook hands, "thoug

Castle Towers? I came with Phyllis Devereux, and she and I took poor Betty Bernard out after blackberries, and she thought it was

ng recollection, and added, "I

, y

it was a

a blund

ecollection, and

it was a

a blund

gain, and,

er po

y life,' I s

e an awf

to recollect what it really was when she looked again. Captain G

o and confess to Mrs. Bernard and take all the bl

d say she had no robe convenable," went on Mysie. "But then you took her to your own room, and washed her and mended her, so that she came

ooked as if she we

u seen h

liberty, bicycles, and wild doings that would drive

not hear that the family had

with Franceska Vanderkist, the very most charming looking being I ever did see; and Ivinghoe had fallen

ne of an indistinguisha

ature and fun when he met the bedrag

said Lady Merrifield, smiling. "You have imp

dalen; "but I shall soon part wit

ece just leaving Cambridge. Such is our lot in these days. No, n

. Robert's," said

o tell her anything she would like to ask about it

ady Merrifield saying, however, that her experience was small, as her young people in general were not musical, with the single exception of her son Wilfred, who was at home, reading to go up for the Civil Service, and recreating himself with the Ch

enics are such fun!" and t

exclaimed Mysie, as th

harming about her. I wonder whe

what do

when you met her at Castle Towers, she a

ard his age, she said he was not the one she had known; I did not speak of cousin H

ie or any of the Stokesley cousins. Harry was never like the rest, I believe, but I had never

ssie and David had carried off

hich he had engaged himself to an attorney's daughter, very young, and with a very disagreeable mother or stepmother. The Admiral came down in great indignation, thought these Prescotts had inveigled poor Henry, broke everything hastily off, and shipped him off to Canada to his brothers, George and John. They found som

ago was

ears. It was while

dear Stokesley cousins having s

e knows the secrets

k that this Miss Pre

at Castle Towers I wondered if it were the same. And now I see what she is, and what she is undertaking for these young sisters; I have wond

ally cared, would he have let his

cle expected imp

mother went off into meditations on different lines on the exigencies

trict obedience, the experienced parent in favour of