Tiny Luttrell

mail bag would not hold the first draught of prompt replies. Until the garden party itself, however, no one at the rectory saw any more of Lord Manister, who had gone for a few da

nhappy during this interval; which, on the other hand, remained in the minds of the p

o have forgotten his existence. Christina was indeed puzzling, and on one embarrassing occasion, which with some girls would have led to a scene, she puzzled Ruth more than ever. Ruth tried to follow her presumptive example

on!" she would say g

a brother," Ti

nderly: "It's sweet of you, dear

ht through from the beginning, so he's something new. He's the only man I ever liked without having the least desire to flirt with him, if you particularly want to know! And I don't believe his b

," observed Ruth slyly, bu

him; he makes you f

iny, he thinks y

filled her mouth unbidden, the smell of a hot wind at Wallando

She did not believe a word of it. Yet it was more or less true. Nor was Erskine far wrong in any opinion h

books had not come to Christina at Wallandoon; but in Melbourne she had taken to reading, and had reveled in a deal of trash; and now in England she read whatever Erskine put in her hands, and honestly enjoyed most of it, with the additional relish of being proud of her enjoyment. Erskine thought her discriminating, too; but converts to good books are apt to flatter the saviors of their taste, and perhaps her brother-in-law was a poor judge of the girl's judgment. He liked her for finding Colonel Newcome's life more touching than his death, and for placing the Colonel second to Dr. Primrose in the order of her gods after reading "The Vicar of Wakefield." He was delighted with her confession that she should "love to be loved by Clive Newcome," while her defense of Miss Ethel, which was vigoro

she asked him once, quite idly, wh

," Erskine replied after a little h

ppy," sugg

though she had given him a new idea, which he would gladly enterta

es show her no happiness so great as her own, and she thinks the sad ones stupid.

orite thing?" int

the last page-I can't tell you why-only because it was so beautiful, I think, and so awfully true! But Ruth saw nothi

Erskine looked gr

you happy

serve to be. That's g

as happy as you're p

like to be some good in the w

that," said Erskine gravely. "I woul

adly, and she said no more. And this time her sudden silence came from no vision of the b

, and to remember that nothing is more delightful than being kind to the grateful poor, especially when one is privately depressed. Little was ever known of the liberties taken by Christina's generosity, and nothing shall be recorded here. She must stand or fall without that, as in the eyes of her friends. Suffice it that she did amuse herself in this way on the sly, and found it good for restoring her vani

e of one clerical neighbor, a Mrs. Willoughby, who accompanied her husband when he came to play lawn tennis with Mr. Holland, and indeed wherever the poor man went, cherished a grudge against the young nobleman's family, of which she made no secret. It was only natural

. It comes too late in the day to be regarded as anything else. Why didn't they do something when first they came here? They have had the place a year. Why didn't they give a ball in the winter, or a set of

," observed Mrs. Willoughby's husband; "and as for di

band. "We dined with them, it is true; I suppose they thought they must do the civil to a neighboring rector or two. But as their footman had

nsidered," murmur

eir garden party, which is to satisfy our social cravings and secure our votes. I don't visit with snobs, Mrs. Holland, for all their coronets and Norman blood-of which, let me tell

gain anything by being civil to us. We don't represe

an instance, and that's worth a hundred arguments. Now I shouldn't wonder, Mr. Holland, if they didn't go out of their way to be q

er tea complacently with this compliment to sweeten it. To so many minds a charge of cynicism w

, who had played against the Eton eleven when young Manister was in it; and he ventured to suggest that the division might find a wo

d Mrs. Willoughby, refreshed by

d not seen the young fellow for years, nor did he think any more about him at the moment, being drawn by Herbe

claimed, turning to Ruth. "Was Lord M

r alarmed her. "I was married just before he came out," she a

t time he stayed there, for

rd. Do let me give you another

s lady, having cursorily declined more

her two were not listening. Ruth could think of no better expedient than a third cup for Christina; as she passed it her own hand trembled, but venturing to glance at her sister's face, she was amazed to find it not

you?" asked Mr

to whom the well-infor

it by fleeing the country; so he fled. You look as though you knew all abo

hich?" a

here more aff

eople s

of her hearers were not listening. "That is just what I expected," she informed the other

n an excusing tone that pierced Ruth's embarrassment and pric

heart. I should blame him for

I know; but I thought it was correct not to be too particular when out there. Your writers come out: we treat them like lords, and then they do nothing but abuse us;

fashioned; the present generation would crack jokes across an open grave, as I am well aware. Yet there isn't much joke in a young girl having her heart broken by suc

ho devoutly trusted that they would not call again. His amusement at Christina hard

?" Tiny asked when the men had gone back to the court; and h

he has been unable to find out," said Mrs. Willoughb

ad been hit into the churchyard. "Only, you see, I don't know which of them it

y thankful. "For," as she told Christina afterward, "I was on pins and needles

s. Willoughby went off by accident, and

Don't you see that I was quite right about your name? So

s for some time; perhaps I

ce-since you saw

nod

talked about it?" Ruth w

ed to find him less beautifully dressed in the country; but I always felt that about him. I am sure,

only I could u

hen you might help me