der a misty embattlement of distant downs. Tracts of ferny solitudes and clumps of woodland lay beyond, cloven by the long straight road th

d a high reputation under the direction of its present head-mi

peaceful surroundings. The speed and pant still filled the limpid daylight with terror; but Meg fought against her unstrung nerves and compelled herself to look out of the window. She was passing through a pageantry of meadows lying in the mild sunshine of the March afternoon; of cows grazing, of a pallid golden light in the sky, veiled with fleecy purple clouds. She heard the passing chirp of birds; she caught glimpses of leafless woods spreading a tracery of boughs against the brightness of the sky. There were

aveling companion fixed upon her. The solicitor had been dividing his attention betwe

ow," said the lawyer wit

of it," r

learned litt

to be," Meg answered in an ea

y the piano, to speak French, German-any amount of accomplishments. Bless me,

f her readiness to fa

owne. Madam was not your mother, or for the

t my mother," said

and darkness could

" cried Meg, a flush

he lawyer guardedly. "You are li

nswered in a tone of offense. "S

utiful," acquiesc

w expression. A halo surrounded hi

I saw to-day know her

p his finger and

t be seen, not heard," he replied, taking up h

l the train shortly after s

e threshold of a sanctuary. This sense deepened when, a few moments later, she was confronted by a majestic lady, whom the lawyer introduced to her as Miss Reeves,

e. I hope, my dear child, that we may bot

er, Mr. Fullbloom bade her an airy farewell, and she fo

her end of the table, "let me introduce to you a new pupil, and to you, young ladies, a new school-f

ht eyes shining behind a pair of clever-looking spectacles. The child fancied she detected m

eads; their shining hair fell about their necks, and they had delicate bits of lace round their throats an

d by a nudge

er spectacled neighbor. The young lady's l

ss of milk or a cup of cocoa?" sai

y in the directio

said this lady with a shad

then suddenly remembering the warn

id hurriedly, with the vivid nod tha

ent round

Miss Grantl

stiff an

k or cocoa?" repea

monosyllabic brevity, in her c

ubdued fits of laughter shaking some of the young ladies; of the

p passed on to her and hurriedly

ces. An embarrassed misgiving fell upon her. Breaking her bread

and of rising about her, Meg stood up. She knew the teac

she said, an

er room. They at once surrounded

is

rought

id she c

e girls approached her and s

name-your real

eg. She was standing infle

led by before to-day?"

when you were called Beecham-what

mbered her promise to the mysterious whit

ignify what nam

she

id the pretty girl in a thin, h

hat does it signif

d all round in what Meg fancied a n

ame?" demanded

would smell as sweet wou

id Meg, b

ou live!" qu

er promise to the mysterio

e," sugge

," said anothe

-her-name, second branch, fourth tree, on t

's late abode was greet

mbed up," sug

nd on the laughing faces. "I am come here to learn le

echoed all

girl who had not spoken hitherto. S

was a lady,

!" was echoe

med to tremble on her lips as

ss her taste

without saying 'if you please'?" asked anot

e nothing-she is de

was a

ormentors

would know a lad

cause she wears a silk dress?" demanded the

Meg with co

ing the street-organ?" ask

sed young lady, she went on: "Why do you want to know all those things about me? It's idle curiosity-that's

t it is to be a lady

ot made a lady,

y makes one laugh at another because she's badly dressed, and to mock her because she's no

d-looking girl, coming close to Meg and thrust

treet last Easter holidays. Your mother had a red ha

shed the little brown hand and came dow

was a

e's a savage

Reeves," was vocife

lt rose the vo

Miss Beecham had told us her mother w

ss, followed by the other teachers

g ladies," sai

had come a