tigers and lions, Sally, and all sorts of beautiful things," cried the master, as he seized the child and tossed her up in his arms with delight; and then a romp followed, and he pretended to be a tiger and eat her up.

In the midst of the racket, when Stephen was on his hands and knees with the hearth-rug on his back personating a tiger, and in the act of devouring Sally, who should appear but the Rector himself. He was in the room before Stephen had time to get up on his feet, which he did as quickly as possible, and feeling quite ashamed of having been discovered in such a predicament.

"I knocked two or three times," said the Rector, laughing, "but as I could not make you hear, I took the liberty of walking in. I see you were having a fine game, little Sally," he added, patting the child's head.

Sally was standing now with her head bent down, and her finger in the corner of her mouth-she was always awe-struck when the parson spoke to her.

"Sally sometimes pays me a visit in the morning,. and I was trying to amuse her," said Stephen, as he endeavoured to pull himself into shape.

"From the shouts of laughter I think you must have succeeded pretty well," said Mr Champneys kindly; "it was a pity my entrance stopped the mirth, but I came to speak a few words to you before school began."

"Yes, sir," replied Stephen; and he desired Sally to go home.

CHAPTER XV.

IN WHICH VIOLET PAYS A VISIT.

SALLY'S information was quite correct. Violet had been to London to act as bridesmaid at her cousin Augustus Cheveley's wedding. She had had what seemed to her a very gay visit after the quiet monotony of Chiltern, for amusement was the great object of life in her uncle's house in Montague Square. Her cousins, Julia and Henrietta, were both several years older than Violet. They were very kind and good natured, and took their pretty little country cousin to all the fashionable entertainments going on, and they were always lamenting that she should have come when London was so empty and everything so flat.

Mr Cheveley had been an Indian coffee planter, and had retired on a good fortune and a liver complaint; he spent most of his days at his club, where he met plenty of old Indians, and enjoyed curry and gossip.

He gave his wife and daughters perfect liberty so long as there was a good dinner on the table punctually at seven o'clock, and he was left in peace to enjoy his smoke and his nap afterwards. They were free to have as much company as they could entertain without assistance from him—and they took full advantage of the privilege. Violet met more people during

her four weeks' stay in Montague Square than she had seen in all her life before, and her sweet bright face and pretty simple manners attracted much admiration. But if the truth must be confessed, their life at Montague Square did not satisfy Violet at all, though it was pleasant enough for a change. She could not reconcile herself to the idea of spending all her days over a novel or a bit of crewel work, diversified by shopping, making calls, and her evenings in amusement.

The first few mornings she had taken a useful book and sat herself down to an hour or two's reading, but her cousins first laughed at her, and then made attention to her book impossible by their constant chatter. After the third morning Violet gave up the attempt to read, as hopeless; and, remembering she was only on a visit, joined as heartily as she could in the lively small talk of which her cousins seemed to have an inexhaustible store.

They were good natured enough, to be sure, but their kindness was too patronising to be perfectly agreeable to Violet. Julia never allowed her to forget that she was only a country cousin; and, in quite a sisterly friendly way, found fault with all her clothes, and was for putting her into the hands of their own court dressmakers and milliners. Violet laughed and said, as she never expected to go to court she did not see the use of employing a court dressmaker, but her cousin was quite shocked at such frivolity.

"You cannot expect to get style without going to the best places," said Julia; "and style, my dear creature, is everything. A plain girl, stylishly dressed, gets far more notice and admiration than a pretty one in a

dowdy gown. Rustic beauty is all very well for the country, but it does not do in London," she added, looking down with complacency at her own costume, which was of the latest Paris fashion.

"I am sorry I look such a dowdy," replied Violet, "but at any rate it will be Madame Michelle's fault if I disgrace you on the wedding day." Violet was vexed. She was not above the feminine vanity of wishing to pass muster among her critical London friends.

"If you would get a walking costume from Madame Michelle, too, you would do very well," said Julia condescendingly.

'I cannot afford it," replied Violet, boldly, but getting very red.

"Oh, she will wait for her money. I would lend you some directly, but the fact is I owe all my next quarter's allowance already."

"Thank you," said Violet, "but I never get into debt."

"Never get into debt!" exclaimed both her cousinsin surprise.

Well, you are a little piece of perfection," said Henrietta. "I always owe all my money long before I get it."

"I wonder you don't ask uncle to allow you more," said Violet.

"No matter how much papa allowed us it would be the same. He really is very generous, and clears up all our debts every Christmas; but we are soon as much over head and ears as ever.'

"I should be miserable," said Violet.

even lets us run a bill."

"Mother never

"Well, that is hard lines," said Julia. "However do

you manage?"

"Oh, well enough; if we can't afford a thing, we just go without. Mother does now and then give us a pre

sent; but you know she is not rich like uncle." "You would make model wives," said Henrietta. Violet certainly could not be said to look "dowdy' on the wedding day. She looked like a fresh spring flower among a number of hot-house ones.

After the wedding there was a ball. Now, it is a fact that our little Violet had never been to a ball before in her life, and she felt rather excited at the prospect. She and her cousins, being bridesmaids, were all dressed alike. The Misses Cheveley were pale and delicate looking, but Violet was the very picture of health and spirits; her cheeks had a beautiful rosy bloom on them, and her eyes sparkled. Even her sleepy old uncle roused himself up and looked at her when she came down ready dressed. She had to sit with him for half an hour while she was waiting for her cousins. The drawing-room was not lighted up that evening, so there was nowhere for her to go but to the dining-room, which was generally considered sacred to her uncle, after dinner. He was seated as usual in his great arm-chair by the fire, half asleep. When Violet saw that no one else was in the room she was going to run away, for she was always half frightened of her uncle, but he called her back.

She came up to the fire and began to warm her little feet. Her uncle was leaning back with his eyes half closed; she thought he was going to sleep again, but presently he sat up and said—