Salome

, which followed the arrival of the first instalment of the party from Maplestone. She smoothed down difficulties; she laughed at her mother-in-law's melancholy forebodings that "the party

right enough, and so Mrs. Stevens thinks. She says her mistress, poor thing

things here and there; and she has

put on your spectacles to see it; and a

are far too easy. It's a go

w coming over her round, rosy face. "You know how I fre

as to bits and pieces strewed everywhere," and Mrs. Pryor stooped to pick up some leaves wh

ushing the table back against the wall, and covering it with books and a little flower-basket from the old home. Then there was a "nest" of small tables, which Salome and Stevens separated, and covered two of them with some bits of scarlet cloth, round which some lace was run by Stevens. On these tables some photographs wer

meals. He was moody and disagreeable: selfish and discontented in the days

once been a music portfolio, and was now filled with a great variety of scribbled paper, the beginnings of many stories which had been read to her little

and illustrated with pictures, and advertised in the papers! Only Reginald was to be in the secret. And then the joy of giving her mother the money she shou

e, have you g

few shillings; but mother wi

und of my own for the tickets, and

r them. And as to the tickets, you ought not to have taken first

se still! If Reginald was such a fool, I can't help it, it was not my concern; but I have a right to look after you, and I kn

agnanimous air, as if he were to b

older, and could scarcely repre

want money

ss. I am not going into Roxburgh without

believe I have some money of my own,-ten or twelve shillings,-and I can let you have it, or some of it." Salome pu

mond ex

make of keeping mo

rushing up to Stevens, "

ve never

say, Reginald, have you seen my pur

's bed-room, where he was fastening

ou say you

e wildly turned out a drawer in the room which she w

d Stevens. "I do wish you would learn to take care of your

nald came out of his mother's ro

You might have told me before. It

tossed the purse to her, saying, "It's not very heavy. But

not for you to take me to task.

yes, that it is," exclaimed Reginald. "He has n

er uncle, and stood irresolute

e, Reginald," she

er alone," Reginald said;

h seemed to imply that some one was very ill. "The doctor,

ought back the memory of her father so vividly. He resembled him, as brothers do often resemble e

. I heard from your mother yesterday, and she says she is coming this afternoon with the children and-and-" (Dr. Wilton could not fit the sister with a name) "your sister. I will try to meet your mother, and bring her up in the carriag

said gently. "I am very glad mamma

g she is," thought Dr. Wilton. "W

here," Salome said, r

begin with-articles for the law, and so on. But Mr. Warde, out of respect to your poor father's memory, says he will take your brother on, at a nominal salary of twenty pounds, just to keep him in clothes; and considering the calamity at Fairchester, I think

id; "I can do their

it is impossible to tell yet how things stand. The liquidation of the Central Ban

Salome exclaimed; "

ur poor mother's income is secure, and on that you must all make up y

r conveyed a very h

a year at Maplest

er was living at the rate of

r understanding. Four thousand did stand out in sha

rrow, and she will settle about your coming to see y

. "Ada is just fifteen, and Raymond s

between each

arl is nine, and Hans eight. They we

were not in Dr. Wilton's line. H

Salome standing in the middle of the room. She would have liked to kiss him, to cry a little, and be comforted. But there was something in her uncle's professional manner, kind though it

went into the room, and there was real feeling in the words, "Well, my dear child," as he kissed her forehead; but for a

an never be again! Let us all take care, as the daily life rolls swiftly on, that we lay up happy memories, or at least pleasant memories, when that daily life has become the past,-the past which, when it was the present, was, alas! so often sown with the seeds of unkindness, harshness of word and judgment, il

used by Raymo

ot come and se

not ask

you were; but he told

I hate his patronizing ways.

but you are not going out

and yawning. "I should have thought we had

rs. Pryor would li

mewhere in Roxburgh. It is so fine, a

lm Fields Station to meet mamma-d

ck." Salome opened the purse and took out two half-crowns. "Thanks!

ings to mother! It will make her so dreadfully sad if you grumble. Dear Raym

at the bottom of the Red Sea. There is nothing left to live for or ca

you will make money and be a rich merchant." Raymond whistled and sh

ind Reginald, and mak

I was so careless about the purse. It was very good of

et's go out and look abo

d Stevens won't mind-she can have eggs and bacon. And we'll find a shop and have some buns and ginger-beer

nd she set off in better spirits than they had

"But it will spoil all if I tell Reg, and go back, and keep him waiting while I hunt for the right-hand glove. He will say I am incorrigible." So by