xt day the Maynes were to start for Switzerland, and Longmead was to stand empty for the remainder of the

in useless speculations or forebodings; but she could not shake off this morning a strange uncanny feeling that haunted her in spite of hersel

th time, as she brushed out her glossy brown h

in imitation of a poodle; no pruning scissors had touched the light-springing locks that grew so prettily about their temples; in this, as in much else, they w

d shall be very glad when Christmas and Dick come together;" 42 and then she shook her little basket of housekeeping k

invited also; but she had made some excuse, and pleaded for a quiet evening. She was never very ready to accept these invitations; there

hospitality to his neighbors, and he chose to

on our last evening, too," he said to Nan, as she entered the drawing-room that eve

ut feeling as though things were too much for her this evening. It was bad enough for Mr. Mayne to insist on them all coming up to a long

in her white shawl, always a bad sign with her, and had declared herself unfit for any exertion, what could a dutiful daugh

occasion," was his final thrust, as he gave his arm ungraciousl

reened her from view. Another time she would have peeped merrily round at him and given him a sprightly nod or two; but how was she to do it when Mr

lk, he got so visibly snubbed that he w

"you are a Radical one day, and a Conservative another. That comes of your debating societies. You take contrary sides, and mix up a balderdash of

d them there for the purpose of keeping them all under his own eyes and making them uncomfort

thing, when the dews are heavy and the

dared not persevere in the face of this protest, though she exchanged a

, but were hunted out on pretence of having a little

at the grand piano, while Dick leaned against it and watched her. It was naughty of Nan,

me; it had been her mother's and grandmother's name; in every generation there had been a Nancy Challoner,-"come, come, Miss Nancy! we cannot have you playin

ere accomplished girls. Dulce sang a little, and so did Nan, but Phillis could not play the simplest piece wi

vousness and rose without haste. She had a choice little repertory of old songs and ballads, that she could produce without hesitation from memory,-"My mother bids me bind my hair," or "Bid your faithful Ariel fly," and such-like old songs, in which there is more melody than in a hundred new ones, and which she sang in a

er the mysteries of a new game, over the involved rules of which Mr. Mayne as usual, wrangled fiercely with everybody, while Dick shrugged his should

strolled down the garden-paths, keeping quite close to Nan, and showing such obvious intention of accompan

f the road he twitched Nan's sleeve to attract her attention, and whispered, in so low a voice that his father could not hear him, "This is not go

n to Nan more eloquently of the young man's wrath and chagrin and concealed

shall have to-morrow;" and then s

hall, and put down he

?" questioned the young mistress, speaki

tion of the drawing-room. "Mr. Trinder called, and was with her a lo

impatiently. "He always comes and tells her some nightmare tale or other to prev

gowns," returned N

re to see them? And Dorothy, who was contemplating her favorite nursling with th

ooks just as nice in an old gown as a new one; that is what I s

wonder what conspiracy we are hatching, and why we leave her so long alone." And then Dorothy took up her candlestick, grumbl

ty painted fire-screen that hid the blackness of the coals. She did not turn her head or move as her daughters entered; indeed, so motionless was her attitude t

down and bringing her bright face on a level with her mother's. She would have t

n she shivered, and drew her shawl closer round her, and put away Nan's caressing hands, and looked a

all the time. "Of course, Dorothy told us that Mr. Trinder has been here, and of course we know that it

answer: but, as none came,

go on being happy always," continued the girl, with the painful conviction coming suddenly into her mind that the brightness of the

eavy eyes on her daughter and t

d her dry lips together, and folded her hands with a gesture of despair; "but I know that it must be, for 46 Mr. Trinder has told me ev

Mr. Mayne, and her heart felt faint within her. Nan, who had Dick added to her perplexities, was hardly

e bad news, or something. I mean to set Dorothy at defiance, and to light a nice little fire, in spite of the clean muslin curtains. When one is ill or unhappy,

and then she became a little hysterical. But Phillis persi

rothy will say to us; I mean to ask her to make us all some tea. No, mamma, you are not to interfere; it will do

e kitchen fire was raked out; and Dorothy was

s," she said, very crossly. "I don't hold with tea mys

, Dorothy," replied Phillis, blandly. "I have lighted the drawing-room-fire, and I can boi

he fire, and would not aid or abet her

long time ago." And, as Phillis cheerfully acquiesced in this arrangement, Dorot

ng," she observed, in a tone of relief, as she f

7 though the presence of her girls fenced her in securely, and her misfortune grew more shadowy and faded into the background. She drank the tea when it was given to her, and even begged Nan to follow her example. Nan took a little to please her, though

all about it. Does Mr. Trinder sa

. You see, your father would persist in these investments in spite of all Mr. Trinder could say, and now his words have come true." But

abilities, he had never achieved fortune; and as he lived up to his income, and was rather fond of the good things of this life, he got through most of his wife's money, and

een spared, success would have come to him as to other men; but he was cut off unexpectedly in the prime of life, and Mrs. Challoner gave up her large house at Kensington

the integrity of the firm was doubted. Mr. Trinder, almost with tears in his eyes, begged Mrs. Challoner to be prudent and spend less. The crash which he

eaten away. George Gardiner, too, your father's cousin, the man he trusted above every one,-he to defraud the widow and the fatherless, to take our money-my children's only p

d away the tears, and said something rather brokenly about having faith, and tryi