or canons of Norham. She was hard at work constructing a sonnet, to the accompaniment of the great organ in the cathedral, where her father was taking the

birds in the flowering trees near the further window, the hum o

the books and litter of a scholar. Books also were heaped on the quaint spindle-legged side-table with deep drawers, ornamented with carving and brass Tudor roses; and wherever in the room was any wall-sp

n a sofa near the pretty window lay a fragile-looking woman. The extreme youthfulness of her appea

posed to you. I suppose he did propose?" questioningly, gazing in doub

elf some day, Marjorie,"

ng," disconsolately. "Our literary guild next month wants a poem-a sonnet by

ter, but her face was grave as she loo

nces vary," she s

st to get a fact for a foundation. Love

a party first. He had asked

aimed Marjorie, breaking in on

e day, Marjorie. That was the beginning; aft

"I don't wonder. Behind the door!

mother. "We lived four miles apart, And I was

erhaps I could put that. Or

e was masterful

father. "Then love alters characters, if it made father masterful and you shy. Well,

bered that I had dropped my thimble under the table,

e foll

, and he then and

vings, "do you think that

f it, M

ever, I wanted facts," in a

d two boys of seven and nine respectively came into the room. Marjorie's glance

," she remarked, as a certain air of agi

o," said Sandy, the sev

r," burst in the older boy. "He's had the che

n, David, since t

, mother; why not?

n Sandy. "Anyone can climb over tha

not a public path. Only th

s man's a bea

dodging the work-people. They couldn't find out how we got in and out," delightedly, "even when we forgot the keys; there's always holes, somewh

e's written to father, and that he'll ha

nted," said Sandy gleefully, "an' that he'd better go back to Blackton, an' n

achfully, "how could you? He will

muttered David. "Heard Char

ckton would feel like an intrusion, and all Mrs. Lytchett s

I said, too, on'y the

day, he's jolly w'ong," remarked Sandy injuredly.

s papers were lying. Sandy's impatient elbow was dug into the middle of them, as he fidgeted about on one leg. Mr. Bethune

chief again?" he said gently

n rude, too," put in the

ys, younger, but made after the same pattern as the two inside, were now visible on the g

Bethune. "It's a nice letter, and w

red David, and S

ted his eyes f

iness there. I will write a letter, and you will take it. Marjorie, wil

mediately ensued round the tea-table in the next roo

ne their father

hem leave, if they behave themselves. But they have been pla

ented. "But they are not generally rude. I am afraid they have heard the things that are being

es, she can take them. Mrs. Lytchett was suggesting to me just now

hed out the mother. "Marjorie is as well educated as she

r vanished, and sh

lst you were at church. She seemed quite e

d. "I do not think it was her education that Mrs. Lytchett thought wanted imp

ther, "even though she is thin and awkward yet. And

her simplicity natural and charming. But perhaps she

noon-and why didn't Marjorie sit between them, instead of at the end of the pew, where the corner was a temptation to her to lounge? And then she made a set at the stocking basket, and criticised the darning, and pitied us dreadfully for so many boys, all with knees, as well as red heads. An

after a pause. "That was rude, even if it were true. She is cramped her

s grate. "She has a dangerous gift of imagination. Will she ever be satisfied with Warde?

ir errand, brought their father back to the table and the letter they were to

rs. They were standing round the table; the smallest of them, aged three, could just

arjorie?" her mother asked, her observant eyes gl

They're all mischievous, and will need apologising f

udeness. I am extwemely sorry--'" sang out Sandy, raising himself on his

he pleaded; "he'll think it'

une bethought himself to inquire as he finished writing,

to plant his toes between the spokes of his fath

ry, Sandy, in this case, becau

ing up into the grave blue eyes, of which his own

ad been in mischief,"

s; and Charity boxed Dave's ears for treadin' on her fine new frock, an' he 'pologised-an' the Dean 'pologised back for her crossness. An' now

der brother stopped the a

ammar are equally matched, Sandy," said his

looked like one of Sir Joshua's cherubs-nothing visible of him over the edge of the table but a r

back into his chair with such an expression of peace on his face as quite compensated his y