le proge

rolling cir

e flying b

aim Miss Prescott for a game at croquet. "Uncle Redgie was so glad to see the hoops come into fashion again," and Vera and Paula hardly knew the game, they had always played at lawn tennis; but they were delighted to learn, for Uncle Redgie proved to be a very fine-looking retired General, and there was a lad besides, grown to manly height; and one boy, at ho

let me have it

said Primrose. "Mysie

at our school said she

of girls," muttered Fergus, unheard; for Thekla continued-"Why

ing going!"

ooks are always ho

g, drawn, and quartered, and sp

s Aunt Jane," said Primrose, "because

made a

Prescott was very nice indeed, and it was famous that she should make a home for you all, only

wants to be our gove

repeated

o one ever likes

lared that dear Miss Winter was a great darling, and since she had gone away, more's the pity, mamma was real governess to

quite grown-up

't see why any one should be silly and do nothing

el Tower," p

you know what that old book of mamma's says, 'When will Mis

amond or for herself might be doubted; and a

erself of the counsel of Gillian, and the books shown to her; with the further assistance of the cousin, Dolore

people after the game of croquet had ended. Every size and variety seemed to exist among the Clipstone population, under certain regu

pon Vera, who, in spite of her failures, looked remarkably pretty and graceful upon Valetta's machine; while Paula, whom Mysie and Valetta were both assisting, learnt more easily and steadi

brother and sister, till they were imperiously summoned by Primrose to come and give consent to t

would have won Thekla's heart, save that she remembered hearing Vera say, over the domestic cat in the morning, that M.A.'s were always devoted to cats. But, on the who

he enjoyment, and, at ten minutes past the appointed hour for the early reading and study, Agatha felt obliged to go out and tell them that the M.A. was si

ave after the Scripture was done," said Agatha; "y

Vera again; "ju

it was only just going through a lesson

servations had betrayed so much ignorance alike of Samuel's history and of the Gospel of St. Luke, that she had resolved to endeavour at a t

at they had

ys read somethi

ethi

g out of

he Tes

was the Bible,

n it, and we ha

before he was con

Best heard the Catechism and Collect on Sundays from the unconfirmed, a

ir," said Vera. "None o

gatha, "Miss

, "almost a Dissenter, and it is not the Go

atha. "Texts out

e to work out the sermon, and if they can't do the sermon, a

said Vera. "It was

earnt pieces of Scripture! You seem to me like the Roman Catholic child, who said there

drew into themselves, as if their feelings were hurt. "These are the boa

tle," said Agatha, "or a curate, if he doesn't; but I was working

lonians," answered

where did

omething about A

ected, but the lectures are very dull and disjointed; you

ld not lear

well managed, they are in too many hands, and too u

etter begin at the beginning. Suppose I ask

all been confirmed except Th

t the time was come for asserting authority, and said, "Not yet, if you please. We cannot waste whole days. You know Herr Gnadiger is coming to-morrow, and it would be well to practise that sonata befor

ng anything while anyon

You can sit in the drawing-room or your own room.

t is of no use. The M.A. means to be minded, an

ood," said n

grain," said Agatha; "but remember it is

placed herself on the music stool with

worried her elder as much as she durst, by inquiries after the meaning of words, or what horrid verb to look out in the dictionary; and it was a pleasing change when Paula proceeded to work the sa

tha's advice, and submitted without further open struggle, though there was a good deal of low murmur, and the foreman's work was not essentially disagreeabl

ycles. Wilfred Merrifield, with Mysie and Valetta, com

s Vera said. It was admired, as became connoisseurs in the article; and she soon saw that Wilfred was to be trusted wi

enjoying themselves very much; then going on to the quarry, where Mysie looked about with a critical eye to see if it displayed any fresh geological treasures to send Fergus in quest of. She began eagerly

e other on Magdalen's bicycle, her face lifted with imploring, enticing smiles

n them. There was a general start, and Vera exclaimed, "We haven't been outside! No, we haven'

ain that he had been withstanding the temptress

have been a great shame if you had,

him. "You know better than my sisters w

had resisted, for he was ready to agree with

ow lucky it was that we came in time. I do believe that naughty little thin

elfish bear. It w

as needles, enough to cut a

tongue, e

mfort. You would not let her transgres

of a sister only left orders that I was to take care of the bi

. Vera is a nasty little thing, or she would never think of meddling w

ngerish, to shut up such a machine as that, and

it was only till they had learnt to ride prope

erating monkey, just talking over and deluding W

le to greater speed, and indulge in a long whistle to show how

t. Kenelm's, and wants to go there. Yes, and she means to be a Siste

s Prescott. She loves all the same books that we do. She is going to have G. F. S.

eniality Valetta could no