Nuttie's Father

hink th

child.'-K

ries by her mother's hands, and with a white-trimmed straw hat, was almost shov

, said, 'Our child, our Ursula, our Nuttie! Oh, this is what I have longed for all these years! Oh, thanks, thanks!' and her hands left her daughter to be clasped and uplifted for a moment in fervent thanksgiving, while Nuttie's hand was held, and a strange hairy kiss, redolent of tobacco-smoking, was on her foreh

hing imposing and even graceful in his deportment, and his bald narrow forehead looked aristocratic, set off between side tufts of white hair, white whiskers, and moustaches waxed into sharp points, Victor Emmanuel fashion, and a round white curly beard. His eyes were dark, and looked dull, with yellow unwholesome corners, and his skin was not of a pleasant colour, but still, with all N

u think so,' ret

id caressingly; 'but perhaps that would have been too much for the Earlsforth natives.

ant-' falter

ly with a proud delight in her beauty. 'Now that I have seen

wife, beginning with an imploring tone which hesitate

n. You say Lady Kirkaldy called on you. We might return her visit before starting, but I will let you know when I have looked at the trains. My compliments to Miss Headworth. Good evening, sweetest.' He held his wife in a fond embrace, kissing her brow and cheeks and letting her cling to him, then added, 'Good evening, little one,' with a good-natured carel

thankful enough! Your father, your dear father! Now it is all right.' Little sentences of ecstasy such as these, interspersed with caresses, all in the incoherence of overpowering delight,

fresh upon her, she felt herself to have been doing a great injustice to her father; believed all that her mother did, and found herself the object of a romantic recognition-if not the beggar girl become a pr

d, as the vehemence of Mrs. Egremon

ated her mother, in a trance of joy, as the yea

t Aunt

f compunction. 'But he said he owed everything to her! She will come with us! Or if she doesn't live with us,

Miss Headworth was returning to her own house to be there received with another

overed from the first agitation. Alice Egremont herself was glad to carry her gratitude and thankfulness to the Throne of Grace, and in her voluntary, and all her psalms, there was an exulting strain that no one had thought the instrument capable of producing, and that went to the heart of m

the matter then. She was prepared, however, when her niece came up to her in a tender de

Yes, I saw that. And it ought t

efield Egremont. I shall have to see Mr. Egremont,' and her voice sank with

glad it should be so,'

leave you

an't be

u can make arrangements to come to us. My dear husband says h

t, but I must be independent.' She put it in those wor

prosperous and leave you behind. Can we, Nuttie? Come and help me to get her to promise. Do-do dearest auntie,' and she began

use. I tell you once for al

was useless, desisted, but looked at her in consternation, with eyes swimming in te

ave you? What will you do with all t

ink about that. It is a great thing to

d send letters and messages by Mark. You see he came down himself the first moment. I always knew he would. Only I am so sorry f

ie. 'It is so strange! It

ly; 'but you must do your best to be a good daughter, and to f

r, the choir! Who will play the harmonium? and who will lead the girls? and whatever will Mr. Spyers

, my dear,' said Mrs. Egremont, 'but you

r, to wish everybody good-bye? Mr. Dutton, a

ining her sudden departure. The aunt could not talk of a future she so much dreaded for her nieces, losing in it the thought of her own loneliness; Alice kept back her own

ng her long term of trial crowned by unlooked-for joy, while Ursula, though respecting her slumbers too much to move, lay with wide-open eyes, now speculating on the strange future, now grieving over those she left-Aunt Ursel, Gerard, Mary, and all such; the schemes from which she was snatched, and then again consoling herself with the hope that, since she was going to be rich, she could at once give all that was wanted-the white altar cloth, the brass pitcher-nay, perhaps finish the church and build the school! For had not some one said something about her position? Oh yes, she had not thought of it before, but, since she was the elder brother's daughter, she must be the heiress! There was no doubt a grand beautiful story before her; she would withstand all sorts of fascinations, wicked baronets and earls innumerable, and come back and take Gerard by the hand, and say, 'Pride was quelled and love was free.' Not that Gerard had ever utte

ld call it a reasonable time for getting up. Her splashings awoke her mother, who lay smiling for a few moments, realising and giving thanks for her gr

lky brown hair about her shoulders when the bell of St. Ambrose's was heard giving its thin tinkling summons to matins at half-past

he short service, being of that modern species that holds itself superior to 'Cra

e going awa

to stay a few days af

the tormen

piece of my life that is come to an end,

to wealth and pleasure, what must i

one will be raised up. Th

rotherhood,' observe

and Mr. Spyers, who was some way in advance, looked round and waited for them to come up. He h

th!' cried Nuttie, not very rele

weiden thut we

ly Monks Horton. Wha

ed to join us,' said Mary. 'We me

and the harmonium,' went on Nuttie,

here you are going, and you will be sure to find much to enjoy, and also something to bear. I should like to remind you that the best means of going on well in this new world will be to keep self down and to have the st

answer, but Nuttie, as she took her place, was pa

et who appeared at ten o'clock brought a verbal message that his master wished Mrs. and Miss Egremont to be ready by two o'clock to join him in calling on Lady Kirka

imulated by the imploring glances of aunt

that Miss Egremont should

'now that he has found his child

reat hurry just after breakfast, said there was much to do to-day at the office, as they were going to take stock, and they should neither of them have time to come home to luncheon. He shook the hands of mother and daughter heartil