crape trimmings, all wet and draggled with the heavy autumnal dew, and asked where she had been so early.

'Only in the park,' said Thomasina; 'the grass is rather wet, but it is very fresh and pleasant.'

It is the early bird that takes the worm,' said Sir Richard, caressing her hand; 'you are a wise little maid to breathe the fresh air while you can, since they are going to shut you up with your tasks in a school-room. And I tell you what, my lady: the child shall ride down to the cottage with me, and I can get some one to hold her pony while I go in to

see Mrs. Windsor. Then she can see how she likes the look of things, and, if they do not please her, we will give up the plan altogether.'

'Yes, grandfather,' said Thomasina, her eyes bright with pleasure; I should like to with you very much.'

go

At the appointed hour the little girl stood on the hall steps, dressed in her habit and beaver hat; and Anthony lifted her on to the old roan pony, which paced soberly beside Sir Richard's cob through the forest glades of the Chase. Thomasina's mind was full of the bright anticipations which gild the future to the mind of childhood at every turn of life, and she scarcely spoke until they reached the paling of the cottage garden, when her courage began to fail; she felt that it was a momentous occasion, and that Sir Richard did not half like his errand. She feared that he might not plead her cause successfully, and, looking up in his face, she said, 'I should like to come in too.'

'And so you should, my lamb, if I had come on any other errand; but I think the matter may be better settled without you. It is likely enough that you may know the place too well a week hence. Here, you

boy, come and hold the horses for me.' As Sir Richard dismounted he gave the boy a special charge to look after Miss Bertram, giving him to understand that she was made of porcelain ware, and not of common delft, like his master's children. Thomasina and her pony were, however, quite capable of taking care of themselves, and, while the latter stood sleepily blinking in the sun, Thomasina scanned with eager eyes such tokens of family life as came in her way. She looked curiously at the plot of ground which seemed to be given up to the children, and which was in a chaotic state, not trim and bright like her own garden at the Chase, on which the gardener bestowed especial care. There was a half-built rockery and a ruined arbour and some neglected vegetables; also a broken wheelbarrow and a dismembered doll. In one corner there was a rabbit-hutch, and in another the four-year-old child, whose

education had not yet begun, was engaged in constructing a bird-trap out of five bricks. Through the open window of the school-room Thomasina could hear the practice of scales and exercises on a well-worn piano, and once a shaggy head appeared at the window, and was only recalled by a peremptory summons from within. The time occupied in making these observations did not appear long, and Sir Richard presently reappeared, followed by Mrs. Windsor.

'Here she is, a little mite of a thing, as you see,' said the old man, with an unconscious desire to obtain a confirmation of his belief that education was superfluous in such a case. 'You would scarcely believe that she has the best hand and seat on a horse. that I ever knew.'

'So I have heard my husband say,' said Mrs. Windsor, smiling kindly at the blushing child.

'And so sensible too; I am sure that anyone may be glad to teach her. Bless you! she knows all about the place.' Sir Richard added, since Mrs. Windsor did not respond at once, 'There's nothing talked off between her father and me which she don't know of. Then I may tell Lady Bertram it is settled if your husband and daughter see no objection?'

'Nothing can be settled until I have talked it over with them,' said Mrs. Windsor, conscious that she was the person conferring the favour. Yet her heart warmed towards the motherless child, and she added that she hoped they were soon to be better acquainted.

'I think that she means to have me,' said Thomasina as they rode away.

'She made some objections,' growled Sir Richard; but that is the way with women; they always turn a thing inside out instead.