Salome

hore; stunned and bewildered for a time, but soon to find the necessity of struggling onward-to do our best. St

women of Mrs. Wilton's age-in the autumn of her days-naturally clinging for support to othe

small token of gratitude for services rendered to him by Mr. Wilton in past years. The arrival of these things in the van from the railway caused great excitement amongst the children, while the sight of them seemed to open afresh the flood-gates of poor Mrs. Wilton's grief. They were chosen with that sympathetic feeling of what she would care for most, which doubled the value of the gifts. Her own and her

terest and delight to the children, and Mrs.

oking, but he was not fit to hold a candle to the doctor. But she had been used to such beautiful pictures at her dear departed lady's house-nothing could look much after them. Her bitterest shafts were hurled against the devonport, to make room for

Elm Cottage than at the baker's shop; but Mrs. Pryor thought more highly of him than at first, for he waged war against a large cat that Mrs. Pryor had convicted of killing a canary, and still occasionally dared to haunt the back premises to look for a

ns taking up their abode at Elm Cottage: "We live and learn. If any one had told me my mother would take children as lodgers, and t

on, Louise, and Kate arrived on the same day. The little square drawing-room was filled; and Hans and Carl, rushing up to the room where Sal

nd then she looked ruefully at her inked forefinger, and wished she had

my dear. If there isn't another knock! Dear me, I can't abide answering the door; it has never been my business." And Stevens bustled down, exhorting the children not to peep through the banisters, and signing to Salome to fol

s of truth,-the voice which is so different from the "put on" or company voice, or the voice which regulates itse

said Salome. "Wo

ile; "so we know the rooms will not hold large levees. I want to know your brothers. I saw two elder ones at church

ollege now; but I wil

good-bye, Lady Monroe and her daughter

"but I have made her promise to drive with me to-morrow if

the little sitting-room, where their mother sat, flushe

"How do you do?-is this Salome?" and then, with a very light salute on her cheek, went on

o Salome; "may I come with you and find them? Lou

er Aunt Anna's conversation, which all concerned herself and her friends, and her own int

tures in the dining-room, and K

our room. It is not so bad, really; and I like the look of your sitting-room-it has a home-like a

r. Pryor is our landlady's son; and the g

est of drawers. "Essays-papers? 'Chapter I.' Why, I believe it is a story. Have you actually written a story? You look like an authoress.

us ruthlessly dragged to light-to see her sheets, which, alas for her wonted carelessness, ought to have been hidden in one of those deep draw

of a spreading ceda

and she said, "Give me the manuscript directl

dreds of people write now-a-days. I hope you will get fifty pounds for 'Under th

t what you have seen," said poor Sa

t another,' Digby says. But I want to be great friends with

calling her, and announcing that "Mrs. Loftus" was

e gathering twilight Salome saw she was quietly crying. She stole up to her, and, sitti

an effort to drive with her to-

ther too much for you. It was a pity that they all

he past back. But I wi

nt, mother dea

s me to go to Edinburgh Crescent to-morrow to play tennis in the square.

s," Salome said, "and settle down. They are getting v

week," Ada said; "and I suppose I may hav

ano. But I think Salome is right about the children; they ought to begin regular lessons. Mrs.

man," said Ada. "I certainly do agree

rouble over again, and all our thi

nd Rugby boys were thought something of, as the head-master himself and several of the assistant-masters

about ten minutes, and threw h

ired, dear?" as

ugh to choke a fellow. I don't believe you have any idea of th

Reginald. "His brother is in

and his hair like a mop. I should say

abby-for his people are poor, and there are heaps of child

Raymond said. "Not one of the clerks is

ll find the class better. Mr. Warde's nephew and

e by the second po

did you expect

hen Raymond stretched his legs out before the fire, first giving it a vigorous stir with

," Ada said. "Lady Monroe, for one, with

oe? and how did s

and Raymond see

em," he said; "and mind mother d

ery soon; that is the worst of it," Ada said. "Lady Mon

ay! They might be useful, and ask a

Louise very much; and Aunt Anna is really

nd, didn't she? I am

nt, and said she hop

ns 'never,' when

to tennis

anybody e

Atherton, the vic

ain to be slow. We

" she thought. "A little at a time is better than nothing;" and taking the sheet that lay upper-most to a large box in the window, pressed the spring of a little leather ink-stand, and kneeling t

rl boun

n some lovely hot cakes f

dear," S

me? Do come and read to u

sheets, put them in the drawer,