6

volume of 'Blair's Sermons.' But I will tell

you one thing, Anthony: I mean to leave off calling you that and being a dunce, not because Aunt Thomasina

because I wish it myself.

wishes it, but

Mammy and I

had almost settled, the very last time I saw her, that I should go and learn lessons with the Windsors.'

Anthony was first doubtful, and then took kindly to the suggestion. Sir Richard strenuously denied the need of any education; Lady Bertram, prompted by her sister-in-law, urged that the child should be sent to school; and Thomasina's own scheme was a compromise, which always approves itself to the mind of an indolent man. Not without applause of Thomasina's disinterested thirst for knowledge, he laid her proposal before the family conclave that evening, and it was not at first favourably received.

'I cannot think that the agent's children

will be fit associates for her,' said Lady Bertram, more rigid in her exclusiveness than if she had been born a Bertram.

'At all events,' said Mrs. Grey shrewdly, 'they will be more fit than the stable-boys with whom I saw Thomasina feeding the chickens yesterday.'

She will soon tire of it,' said Sir Richard; 'but if she has a fancy for spending an hour or two in the Windsors' school-room, I see no harm in it. Only I must not miss my little maid from her place at breakfast or dessert, and no lessons shall interfere with her rides with me, which are of more good than booklearning at her time of life.'

'As an experiment, and to break her into something better, I am quite in favour of it,' said Mrs. Grey. I don't say that it is the best thing you could do, Anthony, but anything is better than letting her run wild.'

This qualified approbation was supposed

to settle the question, and it was further decided that, since decorum forbade the ladies

to make any visits at present, Sir Richard should ride down to the cottage next morning to open the negotiation with Mrs. Windsor. Anthony had promised to tell Thomasina what was decided before she went to sleep that evening, and went up to her room for the purpose. She was in bed, but lying awake with flushed cheeks, which revealed

the eagerness of her expectation. It is to be, if Mrs. Windsor does not mind having another little girl to teach,' said Anthony, and Thomasina expressed her satisfaction by springing up in bed to give him an energetic hug. Long after he was gone she lay awake, planning how the Windsor interest might be secured, and the chilliness of an autumnal morning did not discourage her from putting the scheme into execution.

Robin and Jem Windsor had missed Tho

masina's little figure at the gate since her mother's death, and they scarcely knew how to greet her when they saw her at the accustomed station; she had never before met them on the way to morning school, and the boys were embarrassed by the difficulty, natural to the young, of expressing sympathy which they are not slow to feel. But Thomasina was not deterred by shyness from declaring her purpose in this escapade.

'Do you know-do you think,' she began breathlessly, that Mrs. Windsor will let me do lessons with your sisters? Sir Richard is going to ask her to-day, and I am afraid that she will think that I am spoiled and stupid. I know that I am stupid, but I want you to persuade her to try me.'

'If she says no, it need not be because you are stupid,' said Robin; 'father says that we are all, except Polly, the stupidest lot of children he ever knew. And it is Polly who

teaches the girls, not mother. Why do you not have a governess of your own?'

Thomasina turned pale at the suggestion. 'Because I should hate it. I want some one to talk to; not a grown-up person. You know that I am all alone here,' added Thomasina, looking down, to allow two great tears to course slowly down her cheeks. She cried because she was lonely rather than because she was motherless, yet the boys thought most of her recent loss.

'Polly will be good to you if you do come to our school-room,' said Robin; but father and mother must settle it of course, and I daresay that it will be settled in some way before we get home. We shall be late for school now, if we do not go on.' on.' The The pony cantered off with his double load, and Thomasina looked wistfully after them before returning to the family breakfast-table. Lady Bertram gave a reproachful glance at her