THE OLD NURSE'S GIFT.

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no time, but to improve fast. As for these delicate little birds, you may imagine that Lady Constance will remember them when she sees the living creatures darting about amongst the flowers, where she will soon be.' 'Do the humming-birds indeed live wild in Jamaica?' asked Constance. Well, I shall like to look at these,

then. What else is there, Agnes?'

'There are two blue flower-vases, and two very pretty cornucopias for flowers.'

'Ah! yes; my old nurse gave me the blue ones when she went away to be married. I was very fond of her, though papa said she spoilt me sadly, and it was very well she was going. And my aunt sent me the cornucopias, and said she hoped they would always be full of flowers from my own garden. But, you see, now I have no garden.'

'Of course you can have a piece of ours, if you like,' said Agnes, as she went to fetch the vases.

'That hope of your aunt's,' said Mrs. Walton, 'only meant that she wished you to be industrious, and fond of the healthy amusement of gardening. That you can certainly do here; so we hope that the cornucopias will still be full.'

'They were always full at the Abbey,' said Constance, half smiling; 'but not with flowers reared by me. They are very pretty, are they not?' she continued, as Agnes placed them on the table.

They can stand on the writing-table, mamma,' said Agnes, and the birds on the chiffonière. The clock might be in our study, Constance, as there is already one here, or in your own bedroom, and the blue vases on the chimney-piece.' And away she went again.

'This is all,' cried Georgie, coming in with her arms full, and depositing the load beside Constance on the sofa.

'My chess-board and men; they are very handsome,' said Constance. 'Did you ever look at them?' and she undid the box in which the pieces were wrapped in cotton.

Oh! look at the little elephants,' cried Georgie, 'with the things on their backs!" howdahs," I remember that curious name; and the beautiful little knights in armour.'

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They are very beautiful,' said her mother. Have you learnt the game, Constance?'

'Oh no. Papa said I must learn to play with him when he gave me these; but I have never even tried.' 'Well, you must learn, and be able to beat him when he returns.'

And that microscope is not very useful to me,' said Constance, 'because I never can manage to put it together. I like so much to look at bits of things when papa puts it up for me; but I forget to ask him,

CONSTANCE'S PORTFOLIO.

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and I have never looked at anything for a long time.'

'I will show you how to do it,' said Mrs. Walton; ‘and you shall try to mount some little objects for yourself. We will keep it down stairs, please, Constance. What is that larger box?'

'My paint-box; it is almost new, and I have not begun to paint or draw at all. Was there not a portfolio with it?' asked Constance. Perhaps it did not come.'

'Yes,' said Agnes, entering with the portfolio in her hand. 'Joseph was just shutting up the box to take it to the loft when I saw this lying at the bottom; it just fitted. Is there anything in it? may

we look ?'

It contained six pretty water-colour sketches of peasant haymakers, children, and country scenes, several small landscapes, and a series of studies of trees. With these were two blocks and a quantity of paper.

'My Uncle Hugh, mamma's eldest brother, sent me these, and the paint-box. He has several children, and they all draw and paint beautifully; so he supposes I can too; but I have not tried much. wished to begin copying some of those figures; but my governess said I must first practise outlines for a long time, and I do not care much for that.'

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'Perhaps you will like it better in company with

others,' said Mrs. Walton. Now, do you feel disposed for tea? and then we will drive.'

'Tea already!' cried Constance. 'How short the afternoon has seemed!'

'It is because you have been busy unpacking and arranging things with Agnes,' said Georgie. I suppose we must do as usual to-morrow, mamma? We have been quite unsettled yesterday and to-day.'

'We shall soon return to our old routine,' said her mother; and it is by far the happiest life to have a regular system of occupation.'

They drove that evening in the opposite direction to the Abbey. The following day Mrs. Walton had some shopping to do in the little town of Barnley. When this was mentioned in the morning, Constance said she would rather not go. She was sure that all the people in Barnley would be staring at her, and pitying her. Besides,' she said, 'your best way is through the park; and I could not bear to see it—to see the house, even at a distance.'

'Well, dear Constance,' said Mrs. Walton, I shall not urge it at present; but I hope in a little while you will be able to bear it. So one of the girls will stay with you to-day.'

'I will, if you please, mamma,' said Agnes. 'I am going to arrange a garden for Constance, and she will work hard with me all the time you are away.'

CHAPTER V.

Constance studies with Agnes and Georgie-She carefully avoids her Cousin Oliver-Oliver takes possession of the Abbey, but decides to let it-The New Tenants.

HE next day was Sunday. Mrs. Walton saw at breakfast that Constance was doubting whether she should go to church,

so she said

'It will be sad for you, dear Constance, to see no one in your mamma and papa's place at church; but you know it must come next Sunday if not this, for you cannot altogether give up going to church. Make up your mind to bear it bravely. You know they will think of you to-day at church with us, in our little seat.'

So Constance went up to prepare with the other two girls.

'Put on some thick shoes,' said Agnes; for it rained hard last night, and will be wet in the fieldpath.'

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Are you then going to walk?' asked Constance.

'We always walk to church,' replied Agnes. 'It is