her heavy eyelids had closed in sleep. The morning light brought a new scheme into her busy brain, and she resolved to lie in wait once more for the Windsor boys, and obtain from them the particulars which her maid had been unable or unwilling to impart.

Thomasina dressed herself and sped hurriedly across the dewy glades of the park, as she had done two years before, when she had wished the boys to plead for her admission into the Windsors' school-room. There were two rough ponies now, each with its double load, and Thomasina's heart beat quickly when the cavalcade came in sight. Six weeks ago they had met on terms of good fellowship; but she was sensitive to the doubtful glances which Robin and Jem had cast upon her when they walked down the aisle on Sunday, and she felt assured that they regarded her as a stranger or an enemy.

'I heard that Polly was ill,' said she, 'and

I could not help coming to ask if it was

true.'

She is ill,' said Robin stiffly, 'but father did not wish anything to be said about it.'

Then Jem nudged Robin, and said in an

audible whisper, I do not think he would mind our telling telling Tom.' For Tom and Asinine Tom were still the names in familiar use among the boys.

'You know that I love Polly with all my heart,' said Thomasina, looking up with pleading tearfulness, as Robin still hesitated.

'At any rate,' he said, 'I can scarcely be doing wrong in telling you what you seem to know already. Polly has not been well, and Mrs. Wood, the schoolmistress, is afraid she has overworked herself. She has fever and very bad headaches, and mother has gone to see what can be done. She cannot come home, you know,' added Robin fiercely, 'because of all this bother. Father wishes

now that we had gone right away from the place.'

'And, whatever you do,' said Jem, while Thomasina remained speechless, 'you must not let Mr. Bertram and Sir Richard know. Father said he should be very angry if we tattled about it.'

'I will not tell,' said Thomasina. May I come to-morrow to know how Polly is?'

'You had better not,' said Robin. I don't think Sir Richard would like it, or my father either. We must go now, to catch up the others.' For the younger boy's pony had declined to stand, and was already some way down the avenue.

Thomasina went home with a heavy heart and a mind too preoccupied to notice Aunt Thomasina, who was standing in the bay window of the library when she crossed the lawn. She was startled by the old lady's voice and her ungentle hand, which was laid

upon her shoulder. I was just coming, child, to call you out of that long grass. I saw you from my bedroom window running across the park. Was it to speak to the young Windsors?'

'Yes, it was,' said Thomasina. She was too miserable to be pert, and the words were strangled by a sob.

Only look at your white stockings; just clean on, I suppose?' said Mrs. Grey.

You

will break your father's heart if you go on in this way, running after a parcel of rude boys.'

'I was not running after the boys, Aunt Thomasina. I went, but I must not tell you why, since it is a secret.'

Secrets are always wicked,' said Mrs. 'Go up now

Grey with oracular decision.

and change your shoes and stockings, and we shall hear more about it after breakfast.'

Thomasina did as she was told, and came downstairs again in a subdued frame of

mind. When family prayers and breakfast were over Mrs. Grey asked Sir Richard if she might speak a few words with him in the library, and, when he assented with an air of surprise, she took Thomasina by the hand and marched in before him. I know, Sir Richard,' she said, facing round when the door was closed, 'that it is your foolish indulgence which has brought matters to such a pass; but I wish to ask whether you approve of Thomasina's going out before breakfast to meet Mr. Windsor's boys in the park?'

Sir Richard looked as angry as his sister could desire, but, as usual, he was ready to vent his indignation on any object but Thomasina. 'They are impudent young rascals,' he said; I shall let Windsor know that there is no right of way through the park, and that his boys must ride round by the road.'