Sophy of Kravonia

Sophy lived), had seen to its punctual performance every week. Things went by law and rule at the Hall, for the Squire was a man of active mind and ample leisure. His household code was a marvel of

f opinion that

ed precincts. Yet the outer manner was automatic-the result of seven years' practice. Within, her mind was busy: t

l who lay in the meadow-grass (and munched a blade

gleam of the eyes the sunlight which fell in speckles of radiance through the leaves above. It was a summer day, and summer was in her

Grouch!" she cried, i

ken. With the same measured paces of her lanky, l

phy'?" she asked. "I'm the

hy Grouch!" Julia

edder. Julia laughed mockingly. Sophy

y to-day," she obs

n't I? But I like to see you

ttle girl. Sophy came and kisse

rgi

"Do you think it's

she knew. "Listen! Mother's consented, consented, consented! I'm to go a

rn w

ow to talk so that people c

sh

ainly without shouting. To be heard in

ircus. I have

An actress instead of a governess! Isn't it glorious?" She paused a moment

d there in her friend's golden hair. They were great friends, this pair, and Sophy was very proud of the friendsh

nderstand," laughed

p company with you-a

ts keep comp

ously making a mental

d say a lot of silly things." She suddenly caught hold of Sophy and kissed her half a dozen times. "It's a wonderful t

isturbed Sophy's composure

ed to me, too, to-d

iling indulgently; the great events in othe

the Hall, and be taught to help cook; and when I'm grown up I'm going to

that from the beginning. But they haven't. You've lived with Mrs. James, I know; but you've been in and out of the Hall all the time, having tea in the drawing-

ght be rather nice to

red the budding Mrs.

"Mr. and Mrs. Brownlow are always talking about the cook-and the

-and I don't beli

rs. Brownlow set

ple in the world bes

yed "Yes" showed that as plainly as her "Oh" had, a little while before, marked her appreciation

er pretty head back on the grass, closing her eyes; a smile of radiant anticipation hovered about

ery pretty," she sai

a moment longer, and, without formal farewell, resumed her progress down the

on the night Enoch Grouch died had grown into a tall, good-looking young fellow; he was clad in what is nowadays called a "blazer" and check-trousers, and smoked a large meerscha

e through," he

l, I must, I shal

t you throu

espairful. "Ma

y; but a smile began to

ee the joint in a man's

a kiss," she said, offering the only

ate kisses. In fact, I hate gi

hate Juli

worst

g "Oh!"-because Julia had given quite another impres

healthy laugh at himself and at her, caught he

said. "Now you can

. It's not very hard

her last words had sounded odd from a child. But Sophy's eyes were

nk the same about that in a few ye

" she asked, with a

d he, assuming

rrogative air-anxious apparently to see what

re going to

amended. "The co

ghed, yet looked a trifle compassionate.

s nice to be a cook,

The cook's a sort

? Is she?" Sophy's eyes w

s a queen-a sort of queen. Because

wbo

know-with a red lamp, lik

ent. "Are you really going

a bit-to

nto a calm graciousness.

nk y

amuse

o!" laughed Ba

ly to his. "You'll be fr

said-and heartiness sho

ravely, sealing the bar

e tea, and then say my

houghts were sad-wante

atechism? Where

y towards my Neighbor' t

r Neighbor'-that's rath

ng," said Sop

ou kn

ind hearing me? Because if I can say it

ght, fi

phy. "But do you know i

ther, I

"Then you say the first hal

a moment over "'To love, honor, and succor my father and mother.'" The child had no chance there. Bu

from picking and stealing, and my tongue from evil-speaking, lying, and slandering; to keep my body in temperance, soberness, and chastity [the young man smiled for an instant-that sounded

id Basil. "

ied, indignantl

ro

's what Mrs. Ja

in the prayer-bo

ell me

o which it shall please God to call me.'" His

or a moment. "Sure

ive,"

stood there a moment longer. Then she smil

"Good-bye, missy," he said

she answered him, genero

dged home with never a glance back at the avenue where Julia was. Yet even now the thought of the child cr

hen. "Please may I read through my

word of mouth-she got the prayer-book down from its shelf and conned her le