Salome

western sun as it shone upon the wide porch and the many windows. Before the house there was a wide expanse of emerald turf, skirted by stately trees; and thi

er, though it was but a little rippling stream, which had taken many curves and windings, an

umy ferns hung over the crystal depths; and here the children of Maplestone Court brought their small craft of every shape and size to sail

, made of twisted boughs and ornamented with the large cones of the firs which

a book with the leaves much crumpled was in the crown. One little foot hung down from the bench; the other was curled up under her in a fashion known and abhor

, was not rosy. It was pale, and all the colour about her was concentrated in the mass of tawny hair which was han

hat was, perhaps, all that any one ever d

, she often escaped out of the school-room to this favourit

r come near Maplestone. The days went on in that serene happiness of which we are none of us conscious till it is over. When we hea

position, stood up and listened. "Carriage wheels in the drive," she said to herself. "I s

eap down into the hollow, and exclaimed, "The bell will ring directly. Make haste, Sal; you are all in a tangle as usual. And won't Mis

h story by Madame Pressensé which has delig

rnes," Salome said; "it is Ada's. Why should

said; "and don't put out

r and sister walked towards the house toge

one brought him back from F

"How very odd! And why did

to go up to her room to give her hair a superficial combing, and her hands a ha

at one o'clock, but to-day her place at the

?" was Salome's

ome," was Miss Barnes's rejoinder

mother was. Do

n imperfection of any kind in her looks or in her dress, said, "Father wanted he

ng the mat

d carelessly. "There's something the

rude," as Raymond pushed away his plate, and, pulling a

s," the young Etonian growled. "I can't think ho

umble at your bread and butter be

" said Raymond, "an

elp them with their tableaux, which were to be got up for their double birthday on the 1st of August. For Carl and

folly! I shall be gone off in Strangw

lack Prince, Joan of Arc, and Mother Hubbard, if mother wi

by the lake, as a surprise, and bring in the lake," exclaimed Carl. "If Thursday is a day like to-day, it will be joll

d to, smiled, and

rse gave it to me. She bought it at her nephew's sh

fearfully vulgar!" s

and began to eat his rice-

their father's unusual return from Fairchester in Mr. Stone's carriage. Mr. Stone was the doctor; and though Salome tried to persuade herself Mr. Stone's carriage had probably been at her father's office, and perhaps h

were some fine pictures; and the wide dining-table was decorated with flowers-for of flowers there were plenty at Maplestone. If banished from the front of the house, they had their revenge in the dear old-fashioned kitchen-garden-a garden where beds for cutting were filled with every coloured geranium and verbena and calceolaria; a garden

whence all their good things came. They had all been born at Maplestone. They took it and all its comforts as a matter of course. Till Raymond went to Eton they had none of them co

trouble to himself as possible; and now, at seventeen, when asked if he meant to turn his mind to any profes

quis of Stonyshire's nephew, he was content. But as to a thought of his responsibility as his father's eldest son, or any idea beyond the present moment, he had nothing of the kind. Of late he had grown arrogant and self-asserting at home; and the holidays, when Reginald came rushing in with joyous glad

ool at Christmas. The very idea of such a separation set "Hans's water-works flowing,"

little Hans had lifted his voice in childish treble, with the accustomed form used b

"Have you had no luncheon, mothe

e to her, "Take the children away," she declined anything but a glass of

r, mayn't we? and Ada may write

ngs, yes. R

off, and Ada, stooping over he

so tired

ll lingering at the bottom of

ptain this afternoon? I want

Wilton got no furthe

o be ridden carelessly, Raymond

retort; "I did not ask fo

d, seeing his mother did not wish to be

back of her mother's chair, also went away, an

the words she longed to utter. Mrs. Wilton, finding they were alone tog

s in great tro

the girl as

iserable. He thi

tand, mother. H

and as if that were not enough, rumours are floating to-day

er as pathetic. "She is only a child," she was

ep-drawn breath, "Has father al

e has to stop trading as a timber mercha

ours, isn't it?

o-day. There is just this chance, the rumours about the Central Bank may be false. Your father's partners incline to the hope that it may pro

ng, mother; h

strong, never fitted for much exertio

other," Salome said.

" said her mother sadl

save the expense of a governess; help you to do

Mr. Stone happened to meet your father in Fairchester, and thought him looking so ill that he brought him home. He told me he was very anxious about him, and I was

Salome asked. "I will be ve

me in to luncheon. And the De Brettes and Fergusons dine here to-night. They ought to be put off; but he won't hear of it. Miss Barnes

mehow I don't feel as if I should ever be a child any more if-If you come upstairs and lie down in your

the little lake, and all her visions and illusions: the fairy web of youthful weaving, which some of us remember, was so delicious and so sweet. Now, when she had drawn down the veneti