me, which I, by suddenly starting back, leave Lady Flemming to intercept: "That will do, darling; run out again. London will do them a world of good ;" and as I rushed off, I could hear her repeating what was now becoming an oft-told tale, of how she had persuaded our father to take us to London, and how we were to be taught, and formed, and polished until we had become quite orthodox and respectable members of society. Oh, how she rung the changes upon that London. Was it any wonder that we learned to hate the sound of the word. If we did not sit upright, it would be "when you have had a few dancing lessons, my dears." If we rushed into the room and banged the door, "if you could but see how nicely and quietly London children behave." Did she find me sitting at the top of a high tree, “when you have seen how children behave in London, you will never wish to climb like a rash boy again." There were only two things which she found impossible to find fault with. One was our perfect health and strength; we might not have learned very much, there certainly was room for improvement in our manners, but our bodily health was perfect; and I once caught her stifling a sigh as she looked from me to her delicate fragile children. Headaches were only a name to us; colds, coughs, and sore throats were things unknown, though we went out in all weathers and thought nothing of getting wet through. Our other strong point was riding. Almost as soon as we could walk we had been put on the back of an old pony; we had been accustomed, as we grew older, to catch our ponies in the field, ride them without saddle and bridle, till, I think I may safely say, there was scarcely anything I could not ride-certainly nothing that I would not attempt. Dora was rather more timid, though she rode better than most girls of her age; and as for the little ones, they were ready to follow wherever I chose to lead them. I will say for myself that if ever I showed any signs of prudence, it was when I had them with me on their little Shetland |