. She was affectionate and narrow; she was devoted to her pupils, and thought she could best show her devotion by an unceasing round of discipline. Fortunately, both for her and the little L

to beguile the weary hours. Mrs. Lorrimer consulted her with regard to the cook and the servants generally. The Squire would shout to her to spare him a quarter of an hour in the study to see if he had totted up his accounts right. In short, Jane Macalister was as much part and parcel of the Lorrimer household as if she were really one of themselves. She was by no means educated up to

at they could not possibly escape bad marks for unpunctuality. They pushed open the green baize door which admitted them to the sanctum of learning and came in. All the other children whom Miss Macalister taught were already in the room. Kitty and Boris were the sole delinquents-the only ones in disgrace; even Elinor was present. Their faces fell when they saw her. They had built great hopes on having at least Elinor's c

her across the schoolroom, and even

the culprits, and, scarlet blushes tingling in thei

although Elinor's voice was a little h

bright and

res great

wise and

God made

dreadful horsey man," thought Nel

n before puzzled his small head-Why God, when he made everything so beautifu

of interest as she read the fascinating story of the "Field of the Cloth of Gold" in her history book-Kitty worked at her sums with fierce persistence and tried to fanc

ch a stupid, useless thing as spelli

le as an iceberg. Boris watched her with anxiety. He knew well that there was no

Jane so unbeautiful, so un

imself. "I'm certain of it, because the tip of her nose is getting red; that's a sign th

hat? Oh!-I say-M

spoken to in this correct f

r!" burst from the eager

ting the ink-pot over his own copybook an

all your conduct marks for the week, and must stay indoor

stand up to his punishment like a man. He meant to be a soldier some day, and felt exactly now as if he were

schoolroom door was burst ope

I can get breath. Oh, what a climb those stairs are! Why do you have lessons in the tower? All the same, it's lovely when you are here. What a view! What a darling, darling, heavenly, scrumptious, ripping view. Oh, dear! o

s, and lowered his eyes. Nan began dancing about the room. Nan was in white-white hat, white frock. Her fluffy golden hair surrounded her like a clo

-past eleven, and then you can talk to all the children except Boris, who I grieve to say will have to undergo punishment. As to holidays, the summer holidays will begin in a fortn

self ignominiously outside the baize door if other steps had not approached, and Hester, looking cool and sweet, Annie,

to get up a hasty picnic to Friar's Wood. The day is perfect, and this is the first of Nan's holiday

petition was not to be listened to for a moment. Mrs

day for a picnic. Leave the schoolroom tidy, my loves, and then go and get ready. You'd like me to see

an angel," sai

uced to Annie, and then rushed down the s

and out of the group, and was here, there, and everywhere. All was excit

ister had not said a word about remitting his punishment, and he must be true to his colours. He found it very difficult

bestow a kiss of sympathy on him, but she was whirled on with the others. No one gave him

even miss him. Kitty would be in such a frantic state of excitement at having Nan Thornton to talk to, that she would not have room in her heart to bestow a thought on him. He could not walk all the way to Friar's Wood, the day was too hot. How delicious it would be there in the shad

ed his ink-stained fingers through his

set him any task, but he suppos

ishment he could devise, when a small head was pushed in at the d

u doing? They'll be off

Boris; "but please don't f

m and seating herself by the side of her

them," sa

ps as he spoke an

think I might learn a bit of the 'Ancient Mariner' for m

d Nell with enthusiasm, "pa

water ev

a drop t

nging, and longing to drink it, and the dead people lying round. Sometimes at night I think of it, and then afterwards I h

the first six verses of the 'Ancient Mariner,' and perhaps I'd bet

esson times

a soldier some day. I'd better not talk now, Nell, for I must get the first six verses of the 'Ancient' into me in an hour, and I can't if you keep chattering. The general was rather sharp with me this morning, I must say, for all m

, and a drive in the sun would make it worse.

; "you don't mean to say

when I have

k she's sweet

Mariner,' Boris, and I'll si

people who sat in one of its windows had reall

g by the side entrance; behind the waggonette was a pony-cart, a good deal the worse for wear. The pony, whose name was Shag, stood very still and flicked his long tail backwards and forwards to keep the flies away. Nell saw Miss Macalister and two of the servants come out with those flat delicious picnic baskets which she knew so well, and which had so often made her lips wate

. Was no one going to think of her an

tly no

h and disappeared from view down

o-day with her heart so sore, but it made th