had to help him. She fastened the trace on one side, buckled up the girths, and finally clambered up into the carriage while Jabez was still fumbling with

d calmly; and Dan not only produced a knife, but hac

love to drive all over the downs at night, particular

Aunt Pike and Anna into their midst; for another, she felt that to be driving in the dark, and probably through a storm, was responsibility enough, without the care of Betty add

what you can do, and it would be awfully sweet of you. You coax Fanny to get something very nice for supper by the time we come home, and see t

the responsibility thrust on her as she would

his seat. He was so absorbed, or bothered, or tired, that he did not at first observe Kitty's presence, or, at any rate, object to it; and

g by night, and I-I thought it would rest you to have some one

sed if I did," said he

ead is asleep already.

" and, gathering up the reins, off

To be perched up on the box-seat, with the reins in her hand, in a position of real trust, ga

and cottages and pretty gardens, until at last all dwellings were left behind, and only hedges bordered the wide road; and then the hedges were passed too, and they we

shing. Kitty drew in deep breaths of it with pleasure, for the closeness and thunderousness of the atmosphere were very trying. The

, and the sharp, clear calls of the birds alone breaking the silence. Kitty was thinking dee

really we would; and-and I will do my best to look after the house and the servants properly. I am sure I can if I try.

gather what it was that his daughter was saying, for she was rather incoh

ord of what it had cost her such an effort to say. "I will do my best to

, you really don't know

this new arrangement.

tirely beyond your powe

ave an orderly and co

aid Kitty pathetically. "It

prejudiced against your aunt,

I told Jabez what was going to happen, he sat down on a bucket and he looked-he looked at first as though he were going to faint,

d to them, and Jabez was a faithful and valuable one in spite of his peculiarities. "You should ha

dly get her words out, for she had quickly caught the signs of wavering in her father's voice and manner. Already she fe

ave us over in a moment. You have almost got this wheel over the edge of the ditch. You must learn to attend to the business

felt that she had made a bad beginning, her spirits sank, and she lapsed into silence. But w

gently, sorry for his momentary irritabili

oosened again. "Written to Aunt Pike-already!" she gasped. "Oh!"

I gave it, with some o

ne by the time

and drive back furiously to try and intercept that fatal letter. "Father, do let m

wasn't coming to-night. Look at the sky, too; we must try and get to Welland, if not home again, before the storm bursts. It will be a bad one when it come

thought came to her. If she could not recall that letter, perhaps she could induce her father to write another to her aunt, telling her that after all he had made other arrangements, and that th

rue through the gate leading into the Manor grounds; for the turning was an awkward one, and the gate not wid

own from the carriage; but before he could tell her that One of the stablemen would probabl

exclaimed. "The master seems very ba

the doctor cheerfully; then, turning again to K

er stay here, please, father. It is cooler now, and I am very comfortable;" and Dr. Trenire, u

shboard before getting down to light the lamps, when a man a

speaking as though he were bidding her to go rather t

ty decisively, "I wou

you'll get wet through before the docto

do another. And how aggravating it was to have the man glued to Prue's bridle all the time, as though Prue ever needed holding, or Kitty were absolutely incapable! He was not at all a pleasant man; he spoke very sulkily and never smiled. She wished for his departure even more fervently than he, she felt, was wishing for h

O

ash came a violent peal of thunder just above their heads, so violent that it seemed as though the heavens themselves were being rent and

e and the carriage round and put them under shelter, or the cushio

-the more so, perhaps, because she felt that he was in the right. He addressed her as though she were a l

long with it; but the prospect of having to endure his society the whole time made her pause, and while she paused the hall door was opened, and a lady appeared, peering o

g one of his little g

es

nce, child. Whic

ered Kitty

ver makes you stay out

ts

n, with white lace about her shoulders and arms, and her beautiful golden hair gleamed brightly in the lamplight. Kitty, at sight of her, suddenly realized with overwhelming shame that in her zeal to drive her father and ma

e thought, full of vexation with hersel

me?" she groaned miserably. "If I had wanted very much to go in, and had had on all new beautiful clothes, I should have been left out he

e noticed the roughness and stains and marks made by the reins, but Kitty knew that Lady Kitson did. Her keen eyes missed nothing, and probably before very

though they could hardly have told you why. Poor

rawing-room; the

y friendly. The Trenire children, though, did not respond much to their advances; they found them uninteresting and

cked off with his knife. Both ends hung down two or three inches, and no eye could avoid seeing them. From them her glance travelled to her shabby old shoes, the spots on her frock, her hands. Her face flushed a fiery red and her eyes filled. Not for any consideration could she at that moment have raised her eyes. She knew, she felt those gimlet glances, th

t Kitty, "all the rest of my life. It will

upstairs to join her husband, and with her depart

asked Lettice, the el

must be after t

ou," said Ki

and ask Parkin to give us some cake for

n is in a fearful temper with me because I t

like, for the sake of keeping them amiable. I am awfully hungry, and so is Kitty

aid Maude sharply. "I should t

ooking up at Lettice with a smile, the first she had been able t

ou. I am sure Parkin will give me something if I promise her my little pansy brooch;" a

at a whole one," she said. "I shouldn't have tim

r," cried Lettice, already making marked inroads on a sli

ok her so long to make up her mind to take a second bite, that just as she did so voices were heard outside the door, the handle was turned, and Lady Kitson, followed by Dr

o face the storm?" asked her

you a wrap of some so

se you h

ot have been complete without that final blow. Covered with shame and confusion, she rose awkwardly from her chair, looking about her for some place whereon to deposit that dreadful cake. There was none. The

y Kitson politely; "sta

said Kitty

t, there seemed so little to give thanks f

once more the dear homely carriage. With the reins between her fingers, and the responsibility on her of driving through the storm and

cakes all the rest of

take you in out of the storm,

her stay out in the very worst storm that ever was," she added mentally. "Nothing coul