llian had publicly mentioned the subject, all Rockquay who cared for the news

forward to talking it over with Kalliope. Though that young person could hardly be termed Alethea's best friend

ce of meeting even before Gillian, a

e-may I ask i

Kally, I knew y

much I owe to dear Miss Alethea and Lady Merri

ed the facts as she knew them,

s,' said Kalliope, with a little sigh

don't y

d to think of us, and it would only

what it is about

ou know? Did Mr. F

med Gillian. 'What h

pe he might have helped Alexis, and no

d him!

g voice; 'and my father wished it very much too. But when the break-up came, Mr. White made our not being too fine, as he said, to work, a sort of condition of doing anything for us. Mr. Moore did tell him what Alexis is, but I believe he thought it all nonsense, and there was nothing to be done. Alexis-dear fellow-took it

Flight know that

aid. He is always wanting new things to be learnt and practised, and those take up so much time; and though he does

Mr. Flig

ted in this drudgery. If I could only be sure of more extra work for my designs, I could set him free; and if Sir Jasper were only at home, I am sure he wo

with a sudden recollection-'I wonder what books he wants most. I am going to Silverfold to-morrow,

w good of you! How de

w what he w

been trying to find them at the second-hand shop ever so long, but I am

sper's, if he would not mind its b

, Miss Gillian, you can't

h, how could he let me know?' mused Gillian.

at seven; I don

at 8.40. Could you or Maura

quite overjoyed. No one could look at her without perceiving that Alexis was the prime thought of her heart, and G

have had to give

Kalliope said; 'and

said Gillian, beginn

or nonsense about that,' cried

nl

ing. Not that there is anything to tell,' said Kalliope, much d

you meant when you sa

'If we could only go away from this place! But that's

don't care

en gentlemen!' said Kalliope, in a to

of it, as not the whole truth, and there was a consciousness about her all the afternoon which made her soon regret that conversation was chiefly absorbed by the younger one's lamentations that they were not to accompany her to Silverfold, and by their commissions. Fergus wanted a formidable amount of precious tools, and inchoate machines, whi

mamma gave her Little Alice and her Sister, when she was seven ye

not that

ve it. Mysie always let Maura have everyth

ink Mysie ought to be writ

is always wiser to be above-board when dealin

talked of offering to some of those charities which have a miscellaneous appetite, and wonderful power of adaptation of the disused. Besides, though no one could have the least objection to their being bestowed on the Whites, the very fact of this being her third secret mee

d not want to have a fuss,' Aunt Jane said she thought it a pity, with regard at least to the gov

r Aunt Ada laughed, saying, 'Especially with y

in the morning; but she was far too busy, and Gillian started off in the omnibus alone with Mrs. Mount in handsome black silk trim, t

ent thanks sent from Alexis, and which the tattered books-even if they proved to be right-would scarcely deserve. He would come with his s

se, would have seen nothing remarkable in her charge being accosted by a nice-looking ladylike girl. So

with the pony carriage, while the trees of Silverfold

illian more than she had expected, though the schoolroom had been wakened up for her, a bright fire on the hearth, and the coc

illian had shown all she could to Mrs. Mount, visited all the animals, gone round the garden, and made two beautiful posies of autumn flowers, one for her little sister and the other for Kalliope, discovered that Fergus's precious machine had been ruthlessly made away with, but secured his tools,-she found eating partridge in solitary grandeur rather dreary work, though she had all the brea

efore her, he went off to entertain Mrs. Mount; and after packing a substratum of the fruit in the basket for the Whites, she began almost to repent of having insisted on no

aw how worn and tired the governess looked, and the brightness that flashed over the pale face at sight of her. Mrs. Vincent had

some practice in telling her story not too disconsolately, for it was received with all the delight that the mere notion of a marria

over what was more personally interesting to the governess, the success of her own pupils, scattered as they were, and comparing notes upon Mysie's lette

ograph of to mamma, and she paints pictures herself. I want to see them; but I do not know whether we shall stay in London, for they do not think it agrees with Fly. I do more lessons than she does now, and I have read through all Autour de mon Jardin. I have a letter from Dolores too, and she thinks th

ncent in dismay. 'But I had only just got th

thought of Mysie having a

done; for you can't have any ot

and I suppose we shall have to get mixed up with the whole lot. How I do hate strangers! But I'll tak

betrayed through inadvertence.' Perhaps she thought Gillian looked dangerously gra

ts, and aunts and aunts!' said G

ever ask you to conceal anything from Lady Merrifield.

nt had pronounced concealment from her aunts to be justifiable; and she knew at the bottom of her heart that her governess would condemn a habit of secret

cts of the case, and Gillian went home in high spirits, considerably encumbered with parcels,

ion, their gratitude unbounded, and finding useful ven

t, the one with the big brown paper parcel, the other with the basket of fruit and flowers; and Gillia

rdent affection of the Begum and the health of Rigdum, though Gillian was forced to confess that she had not transferred to him the kiss that she had been commissioned to convey. Nobody was disappointed except Fergus, who could not but vituperate the hous

nothing about the New Zealand report. The selection of lace was much approved, and the next day there was to be an expedition to end

rfold. Macrae seems to have bee

s alive again,' said Gillian. '

delicious,' cried Valetta. 'S

how to work the lawn

t Jane, 'whom have you

ld wish. 'There were some old school-books that I thought would be useful t

, but why would Aunt Jane lo

ther aunt, might almost have been convinced that such determination must be for an object. However, Gillian encountered the fog in vain, though she walked up and down the path till her clothes were quite limp and flabby with damp. All the view that rewarded her was the outline of the shrubs looming throug

in the afternoon,' said the younger aunt to the elder.

ss Mohun, 'added to the reckless fo

her so delicate that they are quite helpless, o

girls of Lily's class are about at the same stage of culture as the young ladies of whom her namesake in the Inheritance is the type. When Lily showed her in some little magazine the weakest of poetry, and called it so sweet, just like 'dear Mr. Grant's lovely sermon, the last she had heard. Did he not look so like a saint in his surplice and white stole, with his holy face and beautiful blue eyes; it was enough to make any one feel good to look at him,' Gillian simply re

mper of our

leaves upon th

rse of formation needs t

ton, which would, she thought, be much more wholesome reality, so she went on later than usual,

White coming up together from the works, and eagerly met and shook hands with them. The dark days were making them close earli

re exactly what he had wanted and longed for. His foreign birth enabled him to do this much more prettily and less clumsily than an

s they are to me!' said Alexis. '

' asked Gillian. 'Is it not very

d the youth, 'so I hope to do so myself; but of

,' said Gillian; 'I have don

said eagerly. 'If you could make me

and another, till one occurred which could hardly be comprehended without reference to the passage, u

Miss Merrifield to do Greek

more so as Mrs. Stebbing just

you would set down any difficulties, you c

good of you!' exclaimed Alexis,

doubtful, and bega

to read to this Lilian Giles, and if I come down afterwards to Kalliope's o

d hardly anything, and as they had reached the place wher

s gestures of delight. She did not hear, and did not guess how Kalliope answered, 'Don't set your heart on it too much, dear fellow

found her 'great thing.' Training a minister