Nuttie's Father

s maid, with

retched, aga

e gulf betw

was a latent unwillingness in Mrs. Egremont's mind to discuss the subject with either aunt or daughter; and when the post brought no letter, Ursula, after a moment's sense

ome? or we shall

who, standing about half-way between Mrs. Egremont and her

er ducklings,' said Nuttie. 'It

do you like an hour

she whispered, 'Aunt

mother,

and Ursula poured out her heart. Poor little girl! she was greatly discomfited at the vanishing of her noble vision of the heroic self-devoted father, and ready on the other hand to believe him a villain, like Bertram Risingham,

recollection that there was a real fact that Nuttie had a father, and that it was entirely uncertain what part he might take, or what the girl might be called on

ise to our imaginations, so I believe it would be wisest to build up as few fancies as possible, but only to pray tha

hat will be to s

hows when we have nothing to go upon. That would be of no use, and only perplex you when th

nslation with 'You know mother will never stand up for herself,' or 'They think

uttie's excitement. The expedition took place as arranged. There was a train which stopped

ey bore materials for an exact transcript of the Abbot's monumental cross, his head being full of church architecture, while Nuttie carried a long gre

day,' said Mr. Dutton. 'How much of the

it,' said Ger

it behind, while you were po

likely to leave i

my Stratiotes, in it?

'Of course I can't see you car

you,

d set her heart on the third class; but Mr. Dutton had taken second-class tickets, and was about to hand them into a carriage whence there had just emerged a very superciliou

Miss Nugent, on the step. 'Pah! h

-a perfect noseg

ellow for hav

no doubt,' sugg

it, to enjoy his rev

's my esco

re we don't

ated Miss Nugent, dragging

e man's master; he has stood him up against that post, with his cigar, to wait while

tudy!' said Gerard. 'What

gentlefolks in the pictures to the old numbers of Dickens that you hav

teful to Mr. Dutton for his sharp though general admonition against staring, while, under pretext of di

its might work themselves off, though the battle over the botanical case was ended by Miss Nugent, who strongly held that ladi

lace, but this son had remained at school, and afterwards had been put into the office at the umbrella factory under charge of Mr. Dutton, whose godson he was, and who treated him as a nephew. He was a good-hearted, steady

me fine old coffin-lids with floriated crosses, interesting to those who cared for architecture and church history, as Mr. Dutton tried to make the children do, so that their ecclesiastical feeli

foundation. The pond had been left to the last with a view to the wellbeing of the water-soldier on the return. Here the difficulties of the capture were great, for the neares

Beau,' sighed Nuttie. 'Why, are

s superior intellige

l this way and not get it,' cried the tantalised Nuttie. 'Oh,

s,' said the youth, ro

ard, in spite of his bare feet, sank at once into mud, and on the first attempt to take a step forward, found his foot slipping away from under him, and would in another instant have tumbled backwards into the slush and weeds. He scr

eadful?' exc

id Mr. Dutton, wiping off the more obnoxious

ter-soldier,' said Nuttie. 'To ha

st,' added Gerard. 'Even if

wimming ground, and I forbid the expedient.

the banks, and now held up in triumph one of the pol

s Nugent!'

mvented the water-sol

urned Mary; 'the soldier may

ate blush-coloured wax-belled species was a prize; by cornfields in ear hanging out their dainty stamens; along hedges full of exquisite plumes of feathering or nodding grass, of which Nuttie made bouquets and botanical studies, and Gerard stored for harvest decorations. They ran and danced on together with Monsieur at their heels, while the elders watched them with some sadness and anxiety. Free-mas

are both so young