"But that's no fun at all," said Edith.

"Oh yes it is; you don't know the bounding feeling it gives me to be on horseback."

a little scorn in Edith's smile, and

There was Marian walked on.

The next time she passed, Edith called out, "You are holding your curb rein too tightly, you will make her restive."

"Do you like riding?" asked somebody by her side, and turning round she saw Mr. Sylvester.

66 yes; I used often to ride with my cousin Willie."

"Well, we must mount you, I think. Here, Miss Marian, you've had enough, now let Miss Vernon get up."

Marian got down rather unwillingly, but seeing Edith's look of eager pleasure, she could not feel selfish, and they went to a small summer-house on one side of the park to change dresses. Edith was soon mounted, and no one would have known her bright animated face to be the same that Edith Vernon had worn a quarter of an hour before. Away she went over the smooth turf at a canter, with the fresh breeze blowing in her face, and her eyes sparkling with excitement and delight.

"You like it," said Mr. Sylvester, watching her with a kind smile on his face. "I see you have been accustomed to it."

Edith gave a bright smile, and cried, "It's perfectly delightful!" Marian looked on with rather jealous eyes. Julia thought it another piece of Edith's forwardness, but Laura looked at her happy face, and said to herself, "I'm sure she must be nice."

When it was time to dismount Edith thanked Mr. Sylvester eagerly, and he said, "I hope you will often come over and ride her; I am sure Laura would like you to do so."

87

CHAPTER V.

AN AFTERNOON IN THE WOODS.

"The leaf-tongues of the forest, the flower-lips of the sod,
The happy birds that hymn their raptures in the ear of God,
The summer wind that bringeth music over land and sea,
Have each a voice that singeth, the sweet song of songs to me.
This world is full of beauty, like other worlds above,
And, if we did our duty, it might be full of love."

GERALD MASSEY.

"ISN'T it a pity that you should go out to scramble in that frock, miss?" said Allen, Laura's maid, as she helped the little girls to put on their things in the afternoon.

It was Julia whom she addressed.

"Oh, I will hold it up," she answered.

"But wouldn't you like one of Miss Laura's old ones instead, miss ?”

"No, thank you; I will manage," said Julia.

"Isn't that frock very like mine?" said Laura. "Well, miss, something-not much," Allen replied, taking the violet silk out of the hanging-press, and laying it beside Julia's frock.

Alas! the silk was of a much more brilliant shade,

and made Julia's look quite dusky. She was more mortified than she cared to show. Marian gratefully accepted the offer of one of Laura's dark dresses, and felt as light again," she said, when she thought that she might clamber and scramble without any fear of detriment to her clothing.

They were a merry party as they set off. Laura said she had a very special secret to impart to Julia and Marian. So those three walked on, while Edith, in a great fright, found that Mr. Sylvester was taking her under his special charge.

But, after a while, she lost most of her shyness; he was so kind, he talked so pleasantly of the view, of the sunshine, of the woods, of the wild-birds, of the winter that was coming. He had found out, before very long, that Edith enjoyed the country most thoroughly; he had discovered which were her favourite flowers, and had told her where there were plenty of primroses and violets in the spring, before they reached the river; and then he laughed at her eager request to be allowed to stay for a few minutes on the bridge to watch the water running under it.

Then they struck off into the woods, and Julia turned round in surprise at hearing Edith's merry ringing laugh. Mr. Sylvester had laid himself out to please the little girl, who he thought looked lonely and sad, and he had succeeded. Edith thought he

was the kindest man she had seen since her father went away; and she thoroughly enjoyed her walk.

Julia thought she was monopolizing Mr. Sylvester's attention too much; and, having heard Laura's secret, which was, that her father had promised that she should have a large party at Christmas time, and that Julia and Marian were to come and spend a week with her, she turned round and joined Edith.

"I was admiring the view, Mr. Sylvester; isn't it lovely, Edith?”

"Miss Vernon quite appreciates it," Mr. Sylvester replied, rather dryly.

"I think Layton is the loveliest place in the world," Julia went on; "don't you, Edith?" "No," said Edith bluntly, "I think my old home was prettier."

Mr. Sylvester looked round at her with an amused smile. "Ah!" thought Julia, "she has offended him now;" but she was mistaken, for Mr. Sylvester said, "Whereabouts was your home?"

Edith told him.

"Oh, then you must have had something of a sea view, which I always think adds so much to the beauty of a place."

"We could only see the sea by going up a steep hill," answered Edith slowly, while she thought of that last walk to Michael's Mount.