Salome

have the pleasure of knowing your mother; and Eva and I spent a very pleasant day at Maplestone last year, when

children are not here yet. We expect them at five o'clock, and that

nearer the place. Have you been

n, and we went back to dinner. I have not see

ht have left a wrong

us is very

nestly. "He is the best doctor in the world-ex

a;" and Lady Monroe sighed. "It on

d her wrong glove began to worry her as she looked at Eva Monroe's

" Then, as the crimson rushed into her face, she said, "Elm

"You must tell your mother I shall call upon her very

herton's church. Why, it is the very house the

d. "They will be nice friends for you, I hope; and the church is a very nice

speaking, and the footman look

ady Monroe. "Good-bye, my de

sappeared behind the little wooden gate. "It is very sad for them all. What a change

lose their father and

ght-thinking people. I feel a great interest in the Wiltons; for their mother is,

so hard to go. Think how tired we were of the life there last year." And a cloud of discontent came over the fair face of the delicately nurtured

there is a crook in every lot, and that God will have us all learn the lesson of "pati

ng-room. The tea-pot had a cosy over it; and a plate of thin bread

his time, just off a journey too. I have got some buns for the children. Now, Miss Salome, do go and g

Reg and I have been to dinner at Uncle Loftus's. O

ster, and tried to greet them with a smile. "Moth

espond to Salome cheerfully; bu

Reginald is walking up with the little boys and

a, Uncle Loftus?" said Salo

-past five. Really you have made the best of this room; it looks q

ed, with a courtesy so profound that Dr.

d I will try in my poor way to do it. It's a world of trouble, ma'am, and you have had your share, as I have had mine;

ed Salome, as the sound of the chil

ey had chattered all the way from the station

white fluffy dog, named Puck, which came bustling in at their heels, flyin

ay to a dog? I thought Puck was

ring him," Mrs. Wilton said. "Puc

ed doubtful

et on the chairs," as Puck seated him

ring Puck," Ada said; "but the c

xious to make peace and avoid discussion with Mrs. Pryor; "a

asked, "and the school-room

vening," Stevens said; "but I will show

ymond?" Mrs.

"He said he would go to the s

I walked down together from the cricket

who says she knew you years and years ago, brought me from Edinburgh Crescent in her ca

tears, found the very mention of her old home too much

pointed that his mother did not notice the book-shelves and several little contrivances in her room. And Salome wished Ada would not s

hearing her most valued possession thu

ats are allowed in my house. I don't take children as a rule-never; but a dawg I cannot pu

n faltered out; "it will do very nicely, and-and I will se

on the staircase, and Hans and Carl laughing and saying, "At it, Puck-good Puck." In another moment Puck appeared shaking something soft

it from him, children

id Reginald sternly, seizing Puck by his fluf

sh-my dear, dear mistress's feather brush! I've seen her dust her own cha

e," said Mrs. Wilton. "Only tw

Pryor in an injured tone, making a thrust at

and Puck stood at bay, barking furiously, and gro

a storm comes a calm. Puck stood apologetically on his hind legs when his enemy was gone; and Carl, seizing him in his

a cloud was the appearance

why, I'll take the little creature to live with us. I am not so particular

often like a riddle, hard to find out. If the intention is good, it is a pity that it is not better fulfilled. People who say

ones" were in bed. Stevens was sitting at supp

d, going out to meet her brother. "Why did

id crossly. "I have been with Barington; I met him in

ay that to mamma,

er chair as Raymond went into the room, "I was getting quite

.-Hallo, Ada, how are you? Barington wanted to come to-morrow to see you. He admir

m her work-for Ada was never idle for

here, will you? No decent people will call upon you. I ca

t. It is quiet and better than living in a str

with Barington at the Qu

s mother, and she now sat with her hand i

r mother. I am sure there are heaps of good lodgings in the better part o

aymond," Sal

ks, heard of something for you in Harstone. You are to go and

so you must be up in good time to be at Edi

d his brother; "I do not

turning again to Mrs. Wilton; "he ought to have a ter

hat is impossible. My dear boy

be so selfish, Raymond?" while Reginald, unable to control his ind

ll get you some other lodgings the very first thing; see if I don't. I am not going to allow you to be shelved off here

e thought. For Mrs. Wilton said, "It is very good and dear of you to think about us, Ray; I o

ck to the chimney-piece surveying the room, and interspersing his remarks on it, which were anything

er?" Salome said at last. "Y

t, Sal; besides, who is t

e can read a Psalm for the Evening in tu

y large prayer-book, for my eyes are so weak. I am in the evening of life, as Mrs. Pryor

o dislike Mrs. Pryor talking in that whiny-piny

Then she found the places in the books, and the young voices read together the Psalm for the Seventh Evening. It se

Lord, and be doing good: dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fe

han he. But I feel as if it would be a fight now, and as if I should never be able to forget the troubles quite. I must set myself to be patient and cure my own fau

the spacious nurseries of Maplestone. The little boys lay in the profoundest slumber, and the mother's heart yearned over them with unspeakable tenderness. But as she left them and gently opened the door of the girls' room, and stood by the bed where the sisters slept, s