The Long Vacation

all her mother

remarkably fo

TAY

a year older than Anna, with a taller, better figure, but a less clear complexion, namely Emilia, the adopted child

a, while Gerald held out a finger or two without r

you credit," said Gerald

usins gone?

ose bank, is to pick up Fernan somewhere, but I told her I wa

tame ones," eja

she say?"

y one to act against principles, but principles in her tim

or about the house somewhere. I don

d. "He saw a good many things, though he was a reg

e it. My respected cousins don't think it goo

o get a long leave of absence, and that

me to us for the seas

w I can. Those two are not in the

ng on our having a season t

hed a littl

to marry a r

d be dismal, my

Gerald! My friends have t

gh as regards 'my mi

ous-baronet's daughters!" obser

even the long pedigree,"

Leston suitors at arm's length," mumbled Gerald; but t

ave hospital training, and either go out to Aunt Ange

pital here,"

s to have it; Lady Rotherwood, Lady Caergwent, besides all your delightful artist friends; and that

n induc

e, when we had played the two old dears to sleep, as I have to do every night, while they nod over their piquet or ba

much when Aunt Cher

e cooking-class, and all the rest with me, and we should not h

you know. Besides, Aunt Cherr

them herself, or the housekeeper; I

ke a gardener's prize bouquet at a cou

only a testimony to Sir Gorgias

poor things," said Gerald. "But po

am quite sick of hearing of them! The piles of begging letters they ge

ood works," o

keting the crumbs from Dive

retary could do

ers, do come out with me. I want to go into Pon

d Gerald lazily, "or is it to refr

s been taken up, and they've

a good

sty little Bill Nosey. I am sure that he got hold of

mence that made them bot

n? Are we to condole with his afflicted

see about it," sa

e steps of the police as an am

e. That's the worst of it. Thos

of those boys with the gymnasi

horrid, stupid, slow dinner-party on Easter Monday, of all the burgomasters a

y of the follies of wealth inst

se on her troubles with her fir

stible Ferdinan

s and a fresh twist to his moustache.

ere obliged to dig! I should like to sc

as Anna swept the scattered leave

cial treason all the way, and you don't want me, and Aunt C

ld. "You are right, Annie, one lady is quite enough on o

verdure about me

e seen no more, even when five o'clock tea was spread, and Anna making it for her Uncle Lance and his wife, who had just returned, full of political news; and li

w, at Clipstone, not far off, and they both recommended Rockquay and its bay "w

t for the visitor

. The General lives there with his sister, and promises to writ

nard's fat

most delightful person as ever I saw. We tell my father that if she were not out in

er told us ho

him that he is not as youn

y he was," o

r him. It is just her life now that Cocksmoor has grown so big and wants her less. Things do settle themselves. If any one had told her twenty years ago that Richard would have a great woollen factory livi

t volcano," m

eat relief, for she could not attend to Cocksmoor and my father both. We want her to take a holiday, but she never will. Once s

is working st

charities of all kinds and desc

chair. "She is a most valuable pe

that I was naughty with her, and then she was terribly sad. But since she gave up Abbotstoke to young Dickie May she has been much brighter, and she can

nty-four pigeon-holes in her cabinet one day, and I believe there was

er crest to her!" said Gertrude, "when Ethel has not thought it wo

our Bi

said he would never do so; though I believe nothing would be such happiness to him as to have Norman and Meta at home again.

aid Clement; "he is

Harewood sets great store by them. Ah! I

rilda, expanded into a portly matron, as good-hu

ty of hers and bringing his violin, and only interrup

and looking tired, only replie

ld come fast enough, you idle boy. And you, Annie, do you know you are

thank you, I don't know i

ses you two are to have for the Drawing-Room fr

d laughingly, whil

caught wit

the tea-table wh

ters are not

generation,"

gars Opera,"

n alive will ever

ith care and cost, and

a cucumber, she th

yet, Lance. Your little girl

oneself away," said Clement. "Perhap

ces," said Marilda. "If she would only think of poor

ce of that," s

port together, but Geraldine shook her head. She was sure that Gerald did not think of his cousins othe

e, whom she piteously entreated not to let Anna lose another chance, in the midst of her

ve her uncle and aunt to themselves. So the matter remained in abeyance till the place of sojourn had been selected and tried; and meantime Gerald spent what remained of the Easter vacation in a little of exhibitions with Anna, a little of slummin