ing in the gl

ps over the

sooth, that s

rink we go

wider, the ha

rgin our son

t, while she

ourse of the

n In

ll of the event, and congratulations began to pour in on all sides, there c

t sparsely peopled, and those parishioners who lived in small cottages by the sea, and who earned their living as fishermen, were most of them very poor. Mr. Merton, however, was one of the ideal sort of rectors,

ter from Mr. Merton's lawyer, acquainted him with the fact that the Downshire County Bank had stoppe

were both in the room at the time, felt that sort of wonder and perplexity which children do expe

orning Hilda went to h

left it; her beautiful brown eyes looked in a heavy sort of fashion out at the world from their dark surround

ncing up at her with a quick start, and an

at if you like, I-I will give up

his seat and put hi

st, are provided for. Quentyns is fairly well off. If he will take you with

ittle proudly, although her lips trembled; "but I-it seems wrong

ded me, and the ease which filled my life. Except that small stipend which is represented by my living, and which I have always hitherto devoted to the poor of the flock, I am now reduced to nothing a year. My poor must divide my money with me in future, that is all; I don't intend to be miserable when I get accustomed to

ered slowly in

could quite bear it,

way of looking far ahead even when he was most roused, scarcely

t stimulating in the world. I should not be surprised, Hilda, if my sermons took a turn for the better after this visitation. I have preached to m

ss-like letter to his lawyer; Hilda stood and looked at him with

whose eyes between their swollen lids were scarcely vi

n a moment! Oh, those wicked Bank Directors. They deserve hanging! yes, I should hang them one and all. And so you have bee

dear, do try to stop crying. You don't know what father is. Of course I can't pretend to understand him, but he is quit

h brings in exactly three hundred and fifty pounds a year; how are we to pay the wages of nine servants, and how are the gardeners to be paid, and the little girls' governess, and-and how is this beautiful house to be kept up on a pittance of that sort? Oh, de

taking things as he is. Of course the servants must go away, and the establishment must be put on an altogether ne

put Mrs. before your name, and you'll forget all about us. Of course I am pleased for you, but you're just as bad as your father when you

he wished I would bre

when her niece made this spee

t your engagement to a nice, gentlemanly, clever man like Jasper Quentyns the on

rovided for at this juncture?" answered Hilda, k

and sitting before her desk, wr

the Bar, and was already b

ed Hilda for her own sake, he might not have proposed an immediate marriag

her hand, looking down a

re had come two closely-written sheets from Jasper. He wanted Hilda

which may not be quite conducive to health. On the other hand flats are compact, and one knows almost at a glance what one's expenses are likely to be. I have been consulting Rivers-you know how often I have talked to you of my friend Archie Rivers-and he thinks on the whole that a flat would be advis

but then this was before the blow came-before Aunt Marjorie's shriek had sounded through the room, and before Hilda had

! God help us!

ed her with necessities and luxuries; it had gilded everything, but she had never known where the gilt came from. When she engaged herself to Jasper, he told her that, for the present at least, he was a comparatively poor man; he had three hundred a year of his own. This he assured her was a mere bagatelle, but as he

t, how horrible of it to come in this guise! She pressed her hand to her forehead, and wondered what her

er his question about the flat-but I don't know what to say. I thought we might have had a cottage somewhere in one of the suburbs-with a little garden, and that I might ha

alf-aloud to yourself, Hilda?" asked a l

at Judy had softly opened the door of her

w to her character, and her face had a somewhat haggard lo

longing for you-you're the person of all others to consult. Come alon

e flung with almost ferocious tightness round Hilda's neck, the skirt of her short frock

as quick as possible. Hand me that sheet of blotting-paper, dear. There now, that is better-I have stopped the stream from descending too fa

said Judy; "what's ink! The tea

id Hilda. "You know what has

what's that? Oh, I am so happy-I am so awfu

u are! Now, now, am I to be

ven't kissed you like this si

e. But whose fault was that? Not mine, I am sure. I was quite hungry for one of your kisses, jewel, and now that I have

u think so, you darl

. I want to talk over something he says in it w

until they looked like a st

glad you ought to be to have the prospect of calling a man like Ja

't want him to be,"

o on. Jasper has written to me on a most important subject. Now

out that you were muttering to yo

the matter over to myself. Jasper

's awfully ch

st have some residence after we are married-mustn't we? Well, darling, now you must listen very at

e? he ought to tak

sper and I. Now, Judy, just try and get as wise as a Solon. He wan

a flat

f the house by a separate hall door. Jasper rather approves of a flat, because he says there won't be any rates a

can ask M

it seems so stupid to have to write back and tel

ie would kno

her, pet. I think I'd better

ery wise and

she said; "it sounds much more interesting. A flat is an

with her pretty brows knit. "Oh, dear, oh, dear! I wonder what is ri

owl-house and a cot

see me, you should have a strip of

a? Miss Mills said that you wouldn't want

quite half the time. Now, now, am I to be strangled again? Please, Judy, ab

ve a cottage, with the g

rite and tell Jasper that I'd much rather have a cottage. Now, wh

in a moment wi

with fingers that

l, how joyful!

it?" as

t sympathy-expect me this evening.' Then I needn't write after all. Judy, Judy, I agree wit

ything, she rose la

you going?"

a w

y s

to take the fresh air," replied the child in a prim

a rapturous, tempestuous fashion,