The Children of Wilton Chase

on; her nature had plenty of daring in it, and she was not prone to timidity. She was not much a

l beauty ought, had quite the reverse effect upon her. It made her discontented. Like many other foolish little m

ore refined accent than most children of her class; her dress, too, was better than theirs; she thought a very little would make her w

ogether. He at once separated the children, told Ermie she was not to make a friend of Susan Collins, and told Susan Collins that she was to mind her place, and go back to her mother. These instructions he further reiterated to Mi

ut not until to-day had this longing been gratified. In a most unexpected way she at last found herself at the Chase. She had enjoyed a good dinner there. That dinner had been fo

tment to Susy. She was sure no one could come into it at present, and she walked round an

he child whose hair was curled in primitive and stiff ringlets, whose blue eyes looked out at the world

that the picture, old-fashioned though it was, had a very genteel appearance. Then she began to fancy that the blue eyes and the lips of the chil

she not take it? The theft, if it could be called by such an ugly name, could never be traced to her. Not a soul in the place

ic-room at home. How she would gaze at it, and compare her face with the face of the old-fashioned child. Susy ha

also been cruel to Ermengarde. Susy could avenge Erm

She stretched up her hand, lifted the little miniature from its

ture on the mantelpiece; without waiting even to look at it, she hung it in the place where the child's picture had been, and then,

ng out the key, threw it carelessly on the floor behind a chair. Then, satisfied that she had done her best both for Ermie

concealed her basket of eggs, picked it up, delivered i

linger in the meadows, Mrs. Collins did not question her any further. She hastened to prepare an e

Ermie sat side by side, and whispered together. Miss Nelson had seldom seen a softer look on her elder pupil's fa

en followed their example. Miss Nelson saw that Marjorie was tired-

e of her pupils' exercise-books, but seeing Basil reading on one of the sofas, she stopped to tal

to me to have you at

Then he dropped his book

t down?" he s

t that I am glad you are at home, Basil. There was

lie wanted me to

account that I am glad,

l no

said. Then he colored, and added qui

, you have a great influence over your eldest sister; oh yes, I can see. In many respects Ermengarde

way as well as any one else. Had he not almost blubbered about not going to Scotland, and although he had thought of Ermie, still he had given up his desires with a pang. He h

e, "what a tiny room! Do they put you off

to hear it abused. She also particularly disliked th

dear boy, but those words-you

mean 'by

pression. It sounds like

all our fe

at make

wished himself bac

to speak about

a warm and very beautiful summer's night. A gentle b

ed to get back to his book, and to the

nce over Ermengarde," said Miss

nce? I mean, why is it necessary? Ermie isn't worse than other people. It sounds as if you were all abusing her when you talk of my good inf

as not listening to all the boy's

began. Then she stopped

is that a key

cked up the key of Mi

found-truly glad. I thought I could not have put it away. And yet Ermeng

sil. He was not interested in the key

, Basil. I could not bring them to you because I cou

, if you don't mind, I had bet

she would wish him good-night and let him go. Her eyes had a peculiar, terrified, star

said, "the pi

y frightened at the anguished expressi

picture of my--" here she broke off. "It is gone, Basil-see, and

People don't steal pictures at the Chase. Ther

it is gone. You see, Basil, it always hung here, and now another has been put on

r hands over her face; her

stand such emotion over any mere picture, but he had the ki

y sorry," h

looked up

nsely. I did-I do. You don't know, my boy, what it is to be a lonely woman. May y

e'll make no end of a fuss, and my father will help. Of course you must not lose

l; I'm sure you'

ace looked as u

on," said the school-boy. "You shall

was silent f

t her request. A more brilliant governess could have taught your sisters, but I can truly say no one more conscientious could have ministered to them, and no one on the whole could have loved them more faithfully.

. He knit his brows. He felt that he was going to be

Nelson. "I am sorry to pain you, but I b

a Wilton! How can you say that sort of thing, Miss Nelso

n more pains for her than for the others. To-day I was obliged to punish her for two of

mistaken. You have no righ

nto this room as a punishment, as a severe punishment for a most grave offense. She was very angry and very defiant. The picture was in its usual pla

Some one else has come in and done the t

mean? The pic

e been dusting, and pu

his morning, and this white rosebud and maidenhair I placed under it. I always put fresh flowers under my portrait; I did so to-day

said Basil, "and I t

room in a