Old Kensington

the calm

flowers

that chang

lad th

the calm

, and from

ake to

birds, and the human beings all round us. The little girls had been at work, and practised, and multiplied, and divided again; they had recollected various facts connected with the reign of Richard the Second. Mademoiselle had suppressed many a yawn, Dolly was droning over her sum-six and five made thirteen-over and over again.

in the air. Four o'clock comes sounding across the ivy-wall, the notes strike mellow and distinct above the hum of human insects out and about. Half Lady Sarah's district is sunning itself on the door-steps, children are squatting in the middle of the road. The benches are full in Kensington Gardens, so are the steamers on the river. To these people walking in their garden there comes the creaking sound of a large wheelbarrow, and at the turn of the path they discover Mr. Penfold superintending a boy and a load of gravel. Mr. Penfold is a cheerful little man, with gloomy views of human nature. According to Penfol

ing Dolly to run back to the house, and see if the post is come in, and continues graciously, 'I am much obliged to you, Pe

his thumb. 'They would have 'ad us send the gurl away, but she is a good gu

ah, smiling. Then Dolly comes flying from the house, and tumbles over a

puppies,' says Aunt Sarah. 'No Indian letter' (in a disapp

o the pond by the road-side (how cool and deep it looked as they passed by), and then by the wicket-gate they wander into Penfold's orchard, of which some of the trees are still in flower, and where Lady Sarah is soon established on the stump of a tree. Her magazine pages flutter as the warm, sweet winds come blowing from across the fields-the shadows travel on so quietly that you cannot tell when they go or whither. There is no sound but a little calf bleating somewhere. Rhoda is picking daisies in the shade, Dolly is chirping to herself by the hedge that separates the orchard from the Penfol

ge some voices come that Dol

and his cricketing cap standing in the Penfolds' garden, and with him her cousin Robert, looking very tall as he leans against a paling, and talks to Mrs. Penfold. There is also another person whom Dolly recognises as Mr. Raban, and she thinks of the 'hox,' as she gazes with respect at th

here?' says Robert,

enfold, looking not over-pleased.

s advance, rusty black, with many red bobs and tassels dangling, and deliberate steps and horrible crinkly eye

lf airs on the strength of his companionship and his short

' cried

d of anything,' said Rhoda, busy with her flowers. Alas! Rhoda's philosophy is not al

Dolly, recovering her courage as the tur

of puppies, Dolly? My Aunt Henley says

says Dolly, o

twins, following, half-agonised, half-radiant. They set the little staggering bundles down upon the ground, and Dolly squats in admi

g with all-absorbed eyes, when George started

ldren could see her. Her bonnet was falling off her face, her hair was pushed back, she came very quick, straight on, looking neither to the right nor to the left, with her fixe

d so swiftly, the children thought that something must have happened; they d

so funny?' said

' said Dolly,

, 'that Mr. Penfold brought. When people think they ar

led to them to bring some water from the pond. No wonder Dolly remembered that day, and Aunt Sarah lying long and straight upon the grass by the road-side. The letter had fallen from her hand, they threw water upon her face; it wetted her muslin dress, a

ut out by Mrs. Penfold, wandered disconsolately about the garden and into the orchard again, where Aunt Sarah's parasol was lying unde

kitchen door was open. What was that shrill shivering cry?

ternoon sun was all hot upon the road outside, and Bunch and the pupp

and the boiling pot in the kitchen fell over with a great crash, and Rhoda ran to see, and at that moment the parlour door opened, and Lady Sarah came out, very pale still and very strange, leaning, just as if she was old, upon Marker and Mr. Penfold. But she started away and seemed to find a

buy Dolly stuff for a new black frock. Aunt Sarah did not smile when she spoke to them, and told them that their mamma would soon be home now. Dolly could not understand it all very well. Their father had been but a remembrance; she did not remember him less because Lady Sarah's eyes w

the puppy cease to jump, nor, if the truth be told, did Dolly

dren with a skipping-rope, and was greatly sho

aid Rhoda. 'I was turni

elings were in her little heart; longings never to be realised, love never to be fulfilled. She went up