shrink from so many strange faces,' said Miss Alison kindly.

There was a slight dilation of Miriam's delicate nostril, but she betrayed no other sign of emotion, evidently recoiling from the expression of sympathy; and her companion felt that such shrinking reserve could have little in common with Mr. Cornwall's blunt nature, even although it arose from excess of feeling. They had not yet reached the house, and Miss Alison tried a more general topic. 'You must come to the Mains some day and look over the girls' books. Mr. Cornwall's collection is of a severe character, although Susan sometimes hunts out a readable folio.'

6

6 He says that they are all too hard for me,' said Miriam with a smile in which there was a slight touch of satire; and I do not care for reading for its own sake. I had no time for it at home, and I do not care to begin now.'

'So here is Miriam,' said Mr. Cornwall, with the elaborate kindliness of manner which seldom springs from real cordiality. Now, my dear, I have provided you with playfellows to enliven your solitude. This is Susan, but she is a young lady, quite grown up, and you will not have much to say to her. Patty must be your friend, for she is just your own age.'

Patty stepped forward, colouring with pleasure, for she was as willing to follow Uncle Ralph's lead in friendship as in other matters. But Miriam was more sensitive to the dignity of her sixteen years, and disclaimed Mr. Cornwall's right to dictate her choice, especially as she was attracted by

Susan's open countenance, while she thought the younger sister heavy and awkward. So Patty's outstretched hand was not received with the frank cordiality with which it was offered.

Here is our white Lily,' continued Mr. Cornwall, and this is Minny. Miss Alison has introduced herself, and I have no doubt that you will all be good friends in time.'

'You must come over to the Mains,' said Susan, exerting herself to break the constrained silence which followed this prediction: 'I was just reproaching Uncle Ralph for having done nothing to transform this into a lady's bower. We will give you some mignonette for the window-sills, and as much scarlet geranium as our churlish Fraser can be induced to part with. And then, Uncle Ralph, you must clear away that deposit of old clothes to make room for them.'

6

'My dear Susan,' said Mr. Cornwall in a defensive tone, that chocolate coat is quite good enough for a rainy day.'

Quite good enough,' retorted Susan, but since you never go out in the rain, it might be as well to appoint a scarecrow as deputy. Old Job would be insulted by the reversion. There is another reform which we must endeavour to carry, Miss Leigh, and that is an arrangement of the bookshelves. I think that we might accomplish it between us.'

'Indeed you will not,' said Mr. Cornwall with increasing alarm. 'I have explained to Miriam that it is quite out of the question. I must have my books where I can lay my hands upon them.' 'Or your feet,' Susan suggested, with a mischie

vous glance at the books piled below the table. Mr. Cornwall defended the arrangement with some warmth, and the dispute only ended with the visit. For when Susan spoke, her sisters were content to listen, and Miriam also sat in demure silence, watching the animated countenance of the speaker, but whether with satisfaction or the reverse, it was difficult to determine.

'Well, Patty, I wish you joy of your friend,' Susan said as they walked home.

'I will not have her,' said Patty; at least, not unless Uncle Ralph makes a point of it, for she certainly will not have me. Who will take her off my hands ?'

'I think that I shall like her,' said Lilias, after pausing for an instant to summon resolution to encounter her sisters' raillery; 'she looks pretty and sensible. And her eyes brightened when you offered her the mignonette as if she were very fond of flowers.'

'Lilies in particular,' said Susan; 'I am glad that you mean to adopt her, for it will be a relief to Uncle Ralph, who looks quite oppressed with his charge. Now, Ailie, you know that I am waiting impatiently to hear your opinion.'

I shall only comment on your own,' replied Miss Alison, which is exactly what I should have predicted, if I had not seen Miss Leigh.'

'You still think me prejudiced? I am sure that I made a great effort to be civil.'

'Yes; and as Lily observed, those sad eyes brightened. I think that something more than civility would thaw her formal manner.'

'It is difficult to be cordial to those who do not meet one halfway. However I will do my best for your sake, Ailie, and I hereby admonish the rest of the family to be equally charitable. And so good-bye to you all, good people, for I am going into the bottom to visit old Sally.' And she sprang over the stile into the muddy footpath leading to old Sally's cottage, leaving the schoolroom party rather indignant at her defection.

41

CHAPTER IV.

Can calm despair and wild unrest
Be tenants of a single breast,
Or sorrow such a changeling be?

IN MEMORIAM.

HE formal visit to Duck Dub was returned

THE

with equal formality on the following day. Mr. Cornwall suggested that his niece should accompany him to the Mains, and Miriam went to put on her bonnet with no apparent reluctance. Their walk was a silent one; Mr. Cornwall occasionally exerted himself to point out the direction of converging lanes and footpaths, and Miriam received the information without hinting that she had explored them all before, rising with the sun in order to secure the privilege of roaming alone through the country. She had felt aggrieved by the Mordaunts' return, because it deprived her of the undisputed possession of their woods and shrubberies.

The slight, pale girl, dressed in her deep mourning, awakened Mrs. Mordaunt's motherly sympathies, and her kind greeting made Miriam's eyelids quiver. Perhaps she had never thought to hear herself called 'my dear' in that tone again.

'Susan must take you to the schoolroom,' con