Salome

th it its own importance, and neither future nor past has the power with children that it has with grown-up people. Reginald and Salome soon left behind them the lines of small villas and lon

by year are multiplied, but yet comprising an acre or two of broken ground with dips and hollows, and, again, wide spaces of s

not lovely? Oh, we can come here very often! I think I remember driving across these downs when I came with dear father to

, and find out a short cut back to Elm Fields. I say, Sal, there is no one near, or no one who can wat

shoulders, refusing to be kept in place by the hair-pins, which were indeed not strong enough to bear up that mass of ta

ith his exertions, "you were not two yar

nd no pins! I must go b

looking for a needle in a bundle of hay to look for the

about my story. Shall I make the children orphans, living with a cross aunt? or shall they have a father and mother? And would you pu

g tea-cups are rather stale. So are all stories, if you come to that-the s

isappointed at this douche of cold

thousands of other families,-may be happening at this very moment. The thing is," said Salome thoughtfully, "it is the way of telling a story which makes the difference. We see things differently, and then we put the old thing in

at Ada, or any of us, any day. I wonder how I shall get on at the college? It will be very different to Rugby. I mus

pens. It is about Raymond I am so afraid. I cannot imagine him in an office in Hars

id Reginald; "do

le height on the Roxburgh side. Reginald leaned with folded arms against the wall, and Salome, uncomfortably conscious that her hair was

it is, Digby.

You can't

ance. Salome's pocket-handkerchief, as she turned at a sign from Re

-handkerchief; and I think you are my cousin. We

had walked on, resolutely determined not to believe they had any kinship with the boy and girl who had sta

is head, and in the very gruffest voice said, "Ho

her. I daresay he has very much grown in two years, but you are so little altered, and"-Kate paused and laughed-"I knew your hair; it is such wonderful hair. D

nd said, "I am quite ashamed of my untidiness; but I have

ish you could give me some; but we have all scraggy rats' tails. We should

I came out for a walk. We have had such

f staying at home. It is so dull for the boys when they have b

nd good-tempered, and was easy to get on with. But Salome listened in vain for much conversation between the boys. All the talk came from Digby, and she felt vexed with her brother for his u

ouise's departure to luncheon at a friend's house in the neighbourhood. A glance at the clock of a church they passed reassured h

alome," said Reginald. "We ought

home to luncheon, D

id Digby, "unless you ha

and I were going to get some buns at a

, glance from Reginald stop

and the children are coming this afternoon, and Reginal

d think, for both." He changed companions as he spoke, and, leaving Kat

boy in buttons" who answered the doctor's bell, and had in truth time for little else than

name poor Bean had a variety of sobriquets in the family. Of thes

ne?" Kate as

you came up. Lady Monroe don't lunch t

ate, saying, "It is all right, Salome, come upstairs," led the way to the r

terously covered it with a white shawl; for Salome's deep crape reminded her t

this; and besides, so few people here will know much about it-so many are away; and by the time Roxburgh is full again, the six weeks' mourning for an uncl

ot notice the blue dress. She need not have been afraid. Salome was fully occupied with plaiting

wreath of ivy round the windows and its decorations within, in which Ada delighted. The back of Edinburgh Crescent

iling, fretful cry was heard. "The nursery is next our room. Guy is our baby: he is very delicate, and I don't think papa has much hope that he will live. Now we must come down to luncheon. I

She felt shy and uncomfortable, and Aunt Betha, rising from

stopped short in eating to gaze curiously at their cousin. "Do you take beer, my dear? Only water! that is right. We are all better for taking water.-Now, Digby, send down the potatoes.-We wait on ourselves at

ve a tide of girls passing throu

dren's dinner," with neither father nor mother present, at Dr. Wilton's was of the plainest, and Mrs. Wilton expended her ornamental taste on her drawing-room, where she had many afternoon teas and "at homes." Dinner parties or even luncheon parties were rare, an

homeless and sad. The boys were going to see a crick

thank you. We ought to b

off with his cousins till four o'clock, when he was to return to pick

ttered leather chairs, which had seen years of service, were on either side of the fireplace; and there was a long bookcase, taking up the wall on one side, where school books for every age and degree were arranged in brown paper covers. A writing-desk standing on the table, with a cover over it, and an inkstand with pen and pencil, all belonging to Miss Scott, the daily governess, was the onl

it. That cracked piano is enough to drive one wild. It is good

ut I don't play much.

n't she? I remember one

lovely. She is not

out in that poky part of Roxburgh; but Digby and I shall

year ago we used to call you our grand rela

e, with a sudden earnestness of appeal.

er face with her hands to hide her tears. "How stupid of me! Do forgive me," said Kate, really distressed

ngs at Edinburgh Crescent. Kate could describe things well, and delighted in having a listener, especially one like

arrogance to outside people, nor of Ada's serene contentment with herself, which was passive rather than active, but was trying enough at times. Salome's loyalty in this respect is worth considering; for the i

eive her mother, set out to walk there alone. Just as she was leaving the house, her aunt and Louise arrived in

ided past, Kate, who was stan

at is Salo

the exclamation; and Louise

ead, and was looking earnestly a

d? I should so much like to speak with her. I was at Maplestone last year.-Stop by that you

he knew the Maplestone people. Why, Salome is getting into the carriage. How absurd! M

nt making such loud remarks

ady Monroe is so kind. And how could

?" said Louise sharply. "I did

e. "She is the nicest girl I have seen for a long