Children of the Dear Cotswolds

had so many friends until h

Billy had only lived four years altogether, but every one he

aid the parlour-maid. "He's that feverish, d

he fishmonger,

red, but it won't be here till to-morrow. Dear! de

ing man, with a short brown beard. He s

cried the parlour-maid

o be sure. I'll go to Farenam for it myself. Te

reham for the ice. Billy's town is a very little one, but Fareham, six miles off, is big, and Mr. Stallon got the ice. I'm afraid that he drove furiously

somewhat lacking in dignity. He is an M.F.H. for all that, and Billy wa

t of poachers. Billy's sympathies were apt to go with th

spend long sunny afternoons bowling slows, and twisters, a

nt them himself, and sang them in his turn. The curate's favourite song was "For it's My

too. Of his répertoi

t married, that

a Wicount, and it

iming delightedly, "That's you, you

Billy was the only person whom he could hear well. He really had no notion of singing, that gardener. So he told Billy tales in b

a hold upon Billy, i

gave it out that "the prayers of the congregation, are desired for William Wargrave Ainger"; then he paused, and with a ring of

inattentive ears, but the familiar name

whom our prayers are desired," the deaf gardener's voice w

eached Billy's house first; but the curate ca

of Billy's mother, singing to him, over and

come, bu

your eyes

ome to Bil

is going

tune, and Billy loved it

ly they followed him up into the darkened nursery. Billy sm

ittle face with loving, sorrowful eyes. The curate knelt down at the foot of the bed, and the Earl, who made no attempt to wipe the

ther's voice went on. Then she sang more

d gone t

It was the doctor. He came hastily into the room, and, stepping so

ld's pulse, and on his forehead. Then he said

lly's mother fell on hers, with the first

's father into the dining-room, saying, "You must give me some lunch. I want to see the little chap a

e Earl, in an aw

ily; "go away, you long-faced l

or news. The Earl went up to the old man, and put his mouth to his ear, saying loudly,

handkerchief; then said huskily, "The Lard be

curate and Williams shook hands. The two young m

grew frivolous, as his manner is; he has not much dignity, and he and t

ally, "you were jolly careful that the Almi

miniscence of their college tutor in his manner, remarked, "