The Stokesley Secret

management, as at first she had feared. Collectively they were less uncouth and bearish, not so noisy at their meals, nor so n

m by some very foolish whine or bit of finery; and in such eases a little friendly merri

he cradle! But when the pencil was in her hand, the lines went all ways but the right; her fairy was a grimy little object, whose second wing could never be put on; the ships were saucers; the kitten might have been the pig; the baby was an owl in an ivy-bush; and to look at the live baby in the cradle only puzzled her the more. Miss Fosbrook gave her real drawing lessons; but boxes, palings, and tumble-down sheds, done

wetter or the steeper places they grew in the better; but the boys thought it girlish to know the names; and Susan, though liking gardening, did not in the least care for the inside of a flower. Elizabeth, however, was charmed at the loveliness that was pointed out to her; and even Annie, when the boys were not at hand, thought it very entertaining to look at petals, stamens, and

of the raven by Annie in lesson-time-and some books left about by Sam. Henry's fines were the serious ones: he had two for incorrect sums, one for elbows on the table, three for talki

istabel wished the hope of that sovereign had never occurred to him, for he seemed to think it quite set him free from the little self-restraints by

Admiral Penrose was appointed to the Ramilies, to take command in the Mediterranean. He was a

said Hal. "He said he

he said," p

ging of my frigate, and said I knew all the ropes quite

ned the aggrie

appointment; and I shall sail in his ship-you'll see. And when I get to the Me

n the Medi

aits of Magellan? Oh! is that the other pla

" said Sam r

st he has set me down by this time; and Pap

e leave, and come an

and I dare say Admiral Penrose will hardly be able to

your pay on your

y prize-m

e-money without a w

there be a wa

held up her hands, "at least there was one in the Black Sea; and I know t

will put much prize-money into yo

any of you. I shall go about, and see condors, and lions, and elephants, and wear

a noise about it!

be the one to go," said Eli

only one fit to make a sailor of-at least, he said I was

He pushed his chair back, tucked up his feet like a tailor's, out of reach, and went on: "Then I shall come ho

f the great public schools, and the chi

't give one for

rying which can be most provoking. Stand up. Now, David, say grace. There, Annie,

to fetch from her own room a glove that wanted mending; and on her return found Sam alone there, curled up over his lesson-books on the lock

ht mood. She doubted whether to leave him alone; but presently thought he looked more unhappy tha

; but, to her surprise, he had befor

ur mind to this," she said,

, and the rest of it, that I have got to be a land-lubb

hout taking notice of this rudeness, for she

her said I was too block-headed to beat navigation into, and that Hal is a smart fellow, wort

wish it

his ship that he had in the war time. Before I was as big as little George I always thought I should b

't you b

his place is to be mine, Hal may want to be in the navy more than I. Yes, it is all right, and Hal must go. But-but-when my father is gone-" and Sam fairly burst out crying. "I didn't hardly know how different it is with him away till this month. I was such a

a man, wherever you are, Sam

he could not but think that there was no fear but that he would be a man, in the best sense of the word, before Hal, when she saw him so manfully put his

t as she could, till the young chatterer decided that she was "cross," and reserved all

little letters in her own to Mrs. Merrifield, so that on Monday morning the hoard was increased to seven-and-sixpence; a

velope, stamped with a tiny rose, and directed to Miss Merrifield. There was ano

ear

ne early to-morrow, and play with me, and that Miss Fosbury will come with you.

ur affe

bella G

y we go?" cried the gi

it did not happen too often, as visits at the Park were unsettling to some of the children. So as

have it; while Susan groaned and sighed over the misfortune of having to write a "horrible note" just at play-time;

; at which Annie made a vehement outcry of "No, no!" su

s note

ear

shu

l at last, perceiving that her u and o had changed places, she tried putting a top to the u, and

send such a thing

note,'" said her governess;

n't one send a message up by the man t

ere finished, and began again, in her scraggy round-hand-getting safely through the "should," and also through

amma's, No. 12,-St

ur affe

a Merr

I am ver

sighed Susan, beginni

ointed to the w

ns into their proper sensible places?" cried poor Susan, to whom it was a terrible enemy. She u

rosvenor was the grand huntsman? Grosveneur in French

ed that "the man deserved to be spelt wrong if he called himself b

is name right, or Mrs. Greville wi

atch it out?" said th

note with a scratch in it. Be

I'll tell you. 'Miss Susanna, and Miss Elizabeth, and Miss Annie Merrifield will b

da you will do her hono

when they dine," said Eli

Miss Fosbrook, laughing; "but I don't think that is the model for

usan. "I had rather not go,

note; really a more difficult thing than writing a long letter. I am sorry for you; but

eet, but wrote, in fair large-hand on a slate, the wo

n coming with Miss Fosbrook to dine with you and spend the day. I am sorry to say that Ma

s, and begged hard for leave to leave out her sorrow. Of c

looked better, but Susa

't say it only to look better to Ida." With wh

untsman, and made the unlucky Place "Grovesnor," and then, in her haste to mend it, p

ss Fosbrook was very near scolding her but she had pity on the tearful eyes and weary fingers, and spoke cheerfu

patiently as she did, without one pettish word to Miss Fosbrook, though that lady seemed to poor Susie as hard a task mistress as if she could have helped it. This time Miss Fos

to its broadest stretch to uncramp them, and stretched herself backwards as if she wanted to dou

ire of having her note admired. Indeed, good child, at the best it was a very poor affair for a gi

whether I shall feel as if I would cha

hat could well be pardoned, as there were only her sisters to see her; and the pleasure of hav

lication to what we do not like may seem at the moment,