tended to buy presents for all the people at home, including Polly. Did her father think that she would like a locket or a fan best? Anthony thought that she would like a locket, and they agreed to go to a jeweller's shop on the way home, since it was evident that Thomasina could not rest until her money was spent. When they left the Gardens, therefore, they repaired to some shop in Regent Street, in which there was a tempting display of glittering things, and inspected many trays full of trinkets. Thomasina set her affections on a blue enamel locket, on which the initial M was worked in brilliants; but the price proved to be beyond her mark.

Do you think that it might be my present?' said Anthony in a low voice. He could not venture to take so bold a step without Thomasina's sanction, and she was heroic enough to suppress her first impulse of disappointment.

'Yes, father; perhaps Polly will like it better if you give it to her. At least, if she does, you will know that she really cares for you.'

It was with some such purpose that Anthony bought the trinket and put it in his waistcoat pocket, and thus it was thaAunt Thomasina's intervention had unwit tingly struck the spark which was to kindle Mary Windsor's sentiment into a passion, and which had already transformed Anthony's unconscious inclination into an earnest desire to win her for his wife.

If Anthony's love-offering had not been consigned to a place of greater security, it would have shared the fate of his pockethandkerchief. He and Thomasina were beguiled into standing among a troop of ragamuffins on the pavement, to watch the exhibition of Punch, and he was too intent on Toby's performances to take notice of the

twitch which ought to have warned him of the abstraction of the contents of his coattail pocket. The fact of the loss was suppressed from Mrs. Grey, and so indeed were many other incidents of that memorable week in London. If she had known how often they were lost, how grievously they were cheated, and how many times they narrowly escaped being run over, she would not have allowed such a pair of babes to wander unprotected through the streets of London.

It was a time of great enjoyment to both father and child; most unalloyed to Thomasina, for she gave herself up to the present; while Anthony's mind was occupied with thoughts about the new future opening before him. Yet Thomasina herself was not sorry to turn her face homewards. She had her adventures to tell and her presents to display, and, although Aunt Thomasina had been

very kind, Sir Richard's unquestioning adoration was more grateful to her than his sister's shrewd criticism. So much had been seen and done in a week that it seemed to be more like a year; she was weary of the crowd and hurry of life, and the cool fresh turf of the Chase would seem doubly pleasant after their long walks on the heated London pavements.

When they were alone together in the railway carriage Anthony took his child's hands in his, and said, 'Have you ever thought again of our talk in the Gardens, Thomasina?'

'Yes, father, very often, when we were out of the whirl. And I am quite sure that I shall like it.'

'My heart fails sometimes when I think of the disturbance it will make at home. Sir Richard and your granny will be dead against it.'

'Just at first, father, because old people do not like a change. But Sir Richard is very fond of Polly.'

'I could brave any opposition if I were quite sure that she cared for me,' said Anthony.

'I suppose that no one can be quite sure until they ask the question,' said Thomasina; and a third person might have smiled to hear the child instruct her father in the art of courtship. I am sure that Polly likes you very much, and if she is not angry when you give her the locket, I shall believe that she loves you and is ready to marry you.'

'It will be better for her, for all of us, that she should not know what is in my heart until I can see her alone. You are but a little girl to be trusted with such a secret, Thomasina.'

'You will see whether I am to be trusted,' said Thomasina proudly. I know that