rassment, to the request preferred by Thomasina, and hesitated about her reply, for she doubted whether her mother would approve of her riding with Mr. Bertram, although she had often gone out with Sir Richard. But, after a second glance at Anthony's middle-aged figure and grizzled whiskers, she decided that her scruples were absurd and gave a pleased assent.

She

was too sensible of the honour done to her to spend any unnecessary time in putting on her habit; yet some delay was inevitable, and Thomasina had the opportunity of asking her father if he was not very glad that Polly was coming. Anthony assented, soberly enough; he was pleased only with his little girl's pleasure.

He enjoyed his ride, however; he went little into society, and when he found himself seated next to a young lady at a dinner party he was quite at a loss how to en

tertain her; but it occurred to him that Miss Windsor was unlike other young ladies. Her tone was fresh and pleasant, and entirely free from coquetry, and, if her personal attractions had been fewer, Thomasina's eager affection would have predisposed Anthony in her favour.

When they returned from their ride Mrs. Grey was installed in the drawing-room, just as she had been when Thomasina came back from her stolen interview with the young Windsors in the park the year before. Time seemed to stand still with Aunt Thomasina ; at thirty-five she had been a stiff, weatherbeaten, middle-aged woman, and thirty years later she was stiff and weather-beaten and middle-aged still. The younger Thomasina submitted meekly to her prickly kisses, and stood before her aunt, who looked her over from head to foot, as a sergeant may inspect a raw recruit on drill.

'She has grown,' Mrs. Grey said at last, 'but she is not so tall as my Thomasina was at the same age.'

'She is tall enough,' responded Sir Richard touchily; I do not want to see her shoot up into a pale, lanky girl.'

Thomasina looked gratefully at the speaker, and escaped to stand between his knees and to fondle his great brown hand. 'We have had such a nice ride, grandfather. Polly went with us.'

Polly is Miss Windsor,' Anthony explained, since Mrs. Grey looked up for information.

'The child's governess?' said Mrs. Grey.

'Yes, Aunt Thomasina; but not so much my governess as my friend,' said Thomasina, incited to audacity by the countenance afforded by Sir Richard's presence. 'I do not call father Anthony any more, but I do call my governess Polly, though she is

'You do not seem to have learned to apply it,' said Mrs. Grey drily. And, when the child had left the room, she was not deterred by the opposition awakened on a former occasion from repeating her conviction that her niece would be ruined if she

were not sent to school. The pertness which is amusing in a child becomes intolerable as she grows older, and it certainly would not be tolerated anywhere but at home.'

'Sir Richard will not hear of her being sent to school,' said Lady Bertram.

'Indeed I will not,' said Sir Richard
heat.
great
The present arrangement

with

gives her learning enough, and I will not have the child's spirit broken to please anyone. I like her saucy ways, and Anthony thinks with me.' Anthony assented; nor

was he at all disposed to resent the assumption that he took only a secondary interest in the child's welfare.

On another point Mrs. Grey felt it her duty to enter a protest, but she took the opportunity of doing so when the gentlemen were not present. How old is this Miss Windsor, with whom Anthony is riding about the country?' she enquired of Lady Bertram.

Oh, she is quite a girl-only seventeen or eighteen. She ought to be at school herself, only Mr. Windsor could not afford to keep her there; and she was always quick and forward.'

'And do you think that a forward schoolgirl, and pretty too, Sir Richard says, ought to have the opportunity of making a fool of Anthony?

'Of Anthony?' repeated Lady Bertram in simple amazement; 'he will never look