dream, unbidden m

tood in blossom with the re

ilde

ither Mr. Merton's or Hilda's. In consequence, perhaps, she was able to realize the blow

kind, and a considerate mistress. Her servants worked well under her guidance. She was set in

tist, and her conversation was considered prosy; but with Mr. Merton to act the perfect host and to lead the conversation into the newest intellectual channels, with Hilda to look sweet and graci

he ordinary small and cozy Rectory-the great house must remain either partly shut up or only half cleaned. There must be no more dinner-parties, and no nice carriage fo

wrecked mariner, as she sat now in the lovely d

ng the beautiful place as it would look in six months' time; she saw with disg

here and go into a tiny cottage where our surroundings would be in keeping with our means; but of course the Rector must live in

at all apply to the occasion; these quotations always pleas

ly, and a fat little figure rushed acr

led the child in a close embrace, and k

her matter-of-fact voice. "Your eyes are

untie feels very miserable-it is about father. Y

s why I wanted to see you, Auntie. I has got half a sovereign

ing," said Aunt Marjo

at her, she has her shoulders hunched up to her ears. She

look at all well,"

abs on the floor. A new anxiety an

week," she said, speaking her thoughts aloud, "that Judy has black line

voice. "I hear her when she's in bed at night. I t

u mean, child? Judy,

e people call them he-cups; but

lowly up to

oing, my pet?" as

a walk," s

How pale you are, deari

Aun

ehead and looked at her tongue, and put her in such

ng the matter, she thought it b

ork while you work, and play while you play. That was the motto when I was a little girl. Now, Judy, love, go out with Babs and have a good romp. You had

out her hand to her little siste

"that I saw a quarter of an hour ago a great big spider in the garden catching a wasp

o die?" asked Judy, keen interest a

dn't be kite so cruel as to let the poor thing die; but I s'pect he

and find him and try to get the web o

nd," said Babs, "under the yew-tree d

nd save him as qu

ed with eagerness and

see them as they dis

f once more, and Judy and Babs began

identical ivy leaf where Babs had placed the rescued insect, when a voice sounded in the

as blue as a summer sky, her full lips were red, her cheeks had the bloom of the peach up

a considerable fortune. It went without say

hood. The sterner sex had owned to heart-burnings in connection with her, for Mildred could flirt and receive any amount of attention without giving her heart in

over, my dear Hilda," she used to say. "When I find

the youngest and smoothest of faces; care had never to

d careworn now, and Judy, with a ch

red, and she put up

Milly?" she asked;

o have anything so silly; but I am shocked, Judy-

concerned voice. "Have you found that wasp,

replied Babs, "and I put the wasp in it most carefu

it?" answered Judy. She was down on her hands and knees ag

on purpose to see you, and there you are squatting on the ground, pushing all that rubbish about

n purpose to s

somewhat gri

e was rolled up in the spider's web, and I

and placed her dirty little hand on Miss Anstruther's arm. "So you heard about our money, Milly?" she sai

people! You don't mean to tell me, l

of all," replied Judy

clouded over

iss Anstruther, half to herself; "he's not at all well

e pitied," said Judy; "h

Her face wore an expression which was almost disagreeable

n't understand Miss Anstruther, but somethi

te Ja

r stooped down

e Jasper Quentyns, and of course it is more important now than ever for her. He'll be disappointed, of course, but I dare say they can get al

ere she had left her, in the cente

going to get Hilda-Hilda herself? What could anyone want more than the sun? wh

to Jasper, and the Rectory of Little Staunton would know her no more. That indeed was a sorrow to

was not to be seen. Even the fate of the poor wasp scarcely interested Judy at present. She was watching for M

ie, but I didn't see the Rector, and I didn't see Hilda. Aunt Marjorie tells me that Jasp

mean, Milly

atom?" answered Mildred, stopping in her walk and l

't understand

see, how old are you-nine? Well, you'll know somethi

Miss Mills hints things sometimes, and oh, how I detest her when s

good gracious, child

? and aren't they going to live in-in a horrid-a horrid flat together, and she won't even have a garden, nor fowls, nor flowers? And you say Jasper will be disappointed. Everything is going when Hilda

the very decided fit of jealousy which was now over he

rling, I really am sorry for you-I really am, but you know Hilda is pretty and sweet, and someone wants her to make another home beautiful. There, I'll say somet

I have found the

issed Mildred, and ran across

ately she spoke about Hilda, and now her whole heart and soul are devoted to the rescuing of a miserable insect. Yes, of course

were shining with unusual brilliance. Someone was coming along the path to meet her. A man with the sunlight sh

rlier train than I had hoped for, and here I am two hours before I was expec

en at the house, and I have seen Judy and Aunt Marjorie. Judy s

oilt, isn't she?

ling, the first in her heart by many

d like Judy know anyt

look so bewildered, and do try and forget about Judy. Aunt Marjorie is taking her trouble in a

ul blow to them al

he eyes, "an awful blow. And you feel it far more than Hi