The House That Grew

place, one of our own favourite places, sheltered but not too shut in, with a view of the pine woods close by,

evor, who naturally began to talk to me, as he

e one. But you should see the view from w

wide. I am very anxious, indeed,' she went on smi

the place is the place,' and I laughed at my own way of expressing myself. 'It seems so entirely away

I hope it isn't rude to call her that? she did seem old to me-began talking to me. I liked her very much. She was so fond of her three doggies, and she was so sympathisi

which everybody thinks a most unsuitable name for a pug, as they do not understand the reason for it. I daresay you will gues

bade Mrs. Trevor good-bye, but Miss Trevor sai

just as we were close to the turn in the drive that led to the stables and coach-houses, she stood still fo

er pretty peep

open views and yet be in shade. As the season gets on, I am afraid you will fi

up shady arrangements,

this time, I am sure, and wondering how she was to offer it without seeming officious, or anything

sort of Bath-chair, of lighter build, even though larger, than such things generally are. It was of wickerwork, cove

hich fastened itself to the front, a large basket for the other side, a stool, quite strong enough for a second person to sit on comfortably to talk or read to whomever was in the chair; a

t easily for short distances. It is really a stationary affair. My brother invented a good deal o

ite agreed with her, though we both wondered a littl

f his worst time, and he says I must get rid of it. He prefers sitting out among the pines in a quite well sort of way. So-it just struck moth

front of the little porch. We could really make a sort of tiny room with it, an

lighted, and mamma sm

t for us, Miss Trevor, and if you are so good as to lend it to us, you may be sure we shall take the greatest care of it. And, of course, if M

or got ra

ys he hates the sight of it. And down at the Hut, it might be of use, even after you have moved up here again. I will have it wheeled down to you to-morrow morning; it may need a little cleaning

ey should get spoilt in any way. And Miss Trevor had said it so nicely-as if our taking it would really be doing them a favour. For, of course, from almost complete

t there had been a good deal of gossip in the neighbourhood about our being completely 'ruined,' and that Eastercove was sure to have to be sold. I suppose a great deal of gos

lled it (I wished it had been a good deal more gypsy than it was!), which she seemed very eager to do, walking slowly towards the Hut. More slowly than I felt inclined for-I was in a fever to tel

open view of the sea, mamma stood still again and g

ftly, giving her arm, through which I

earing the end of his long journey by now. But it was not only because of his voyage that I was thinking of him.

reatly i

do you mean?' I asked. 'Did

he time I was thinking of-ever so long ago-had nothing to do with a voyage. I will tell

nterest of what mamma was speaking of; besides, when I came to think of it, I remembered th

though now, I fancy, it is quite out of fashion. It was considered a very safe place for children, as there are great stretches of sands, and the bathing is very good, except that the tide at one part goes out with great swiftness and force, owing to a current of s

s?' I interrupted thoughtlessly, forgetting that

s, when he heard and saw something which made him suddenly pull up and gaze down towards the sea, which had turned and was rapidly going out. It was just above the bathing-place-a perfectly safe place if the vans were drawn out when the tide turned, and not allowed to get into the sort of current I told you of. But b

he van was almost off its wheels, swaying about with every little wave that ran in, as the water rose and rose. And just outside the door, on the led

p; oh, ple

it for him,-but I know what he did himself, and that was to gallop as fast as his horse would go, down to the sea, shout

ne glance at the state of things, the first comer did not hesitate. For he saw that the van was growing less and less steady; it was almost lifted off the ground by this time, though it kept recovering itself

when he found how deep the water was already and how unsteady the thing was. He was too angry with the careless owner of it to care whether the van itself swam out

save me!" And when he and his horse got quite close he had no need to encourage her to come to him-she almost sprang into his arms, so quickly that he was afraid she would fall into the water. But it was managed s

et a good shake, for he was by no means quite dry, nor was the horse, who had behaved so well and pluckily,

o. She had quite left off crying and

or saving me. I was velly neely drowned, wasn't I? Plea

ttle girl's nurse, dreadfully frightened and ashamed, especially when the boy officer turned upon her

riend was, just as it was being drawn out, as she was so afraid of the parasol being stolen, thinking no harm could come to the child in that minute or two till the bathing-man came back again, and how her friend had seen th

y would have been half killed with fright and soaked through, and perhaps f

had got drowned or something of the kind, had hurried back to see. So he ro

d, "will you tell me your name, so

y in the saddle, and all she h

ant to see if she was going on again. I felt a littl

so like it, but-didn't you say-something abo

xed on the water below us; they and it see

ves. But now that was over for him. Other duties had come into his life and changed it. Well-he was staying near the sea, with his mother and sisters, and one day, after a boating expedition,-it was a picnic to a picturesque isla

en you before, but I cannot tell where or whe

r turn very carefully. And a sudde

quite eagerly,-"is your na

id, more and

en she laughed, and

she said. "I once rode through the

Jack rem

unde

ttle girl, and dear papa is "Jack," and-and-it ended in your bei

Ida, dearest, look how low the sun is getting. We must hurry home, or Geordie and the others will be get

to think of my own papa and mamma as if they were people in a book, and to pict

is still so pretty and sweet;' and I felt that to me she always would seem so, even when her

be my dear pretty