for their visit; and Dolly, having with Jessie's assistance attired herself in her pretty white frock with a blue sash, and the usual ribbon in her hair, sat down to wait till aunty should be ready. All at once a thought struck her.

"I'll take Miriam," she said to herself. "Annie Fairbairn has never seen the pretty hat aunty made for her; and she shall wear the colours too, so she shall."

tissue paper.

Quick as thought was Dolly. She ran upstairs, got dear Miriam out of the box, where she lay wrapped in Of course you will guess that Miriam was a doll. A very handsome doll too, that had been sent to Dolly, all the way from India, by the dear mother whom she could only just remember.

"How glad I am that her dress is blue," said Dolly aloud, though there was no one to hear her.

She was putting on the new hat, when she noticed, just in time, that it was made of straw, trimmed with yellow silk!

"Oh, dear! dear!" exclaimed the little girl. "I could never let her wear that!"

Jessie came in at the moment to see whatever Miss Dolly was about.

"Isn't it tiresome!" said the child ruefully. "I was going to make my dear Miriam so smart to go to the cricket-field, and see, Jessie, her hat is yellow!"

"Well, miss, and lovely she will look, too, in that splendid silk dress," said Jessie.

"But don't you see the hat is yellow?" said poor Dolly. "And yellow is the other party.”

Jessie laughed. "La! I don't suppose anybody will ever notice it," she said.

Dolly was indignant.

"I would much rather she did not go at all,” she said, "than not wear Harty's and Freddy's colours.”

"Now, Dolly," called Aunt Charlotte from below, "are you ready, my dear?"

"Yes, aunty, I am coming," cried Dolly; "I will put this hood on Miriam," she said. "Please tie it, Jessie."

So with a pretty little white muslin hood Miss Miriam was arrayed, and very seasonable and cool it looked, forming a most agreeable contrast to the delicate blue silk of her dress, the golden ringlets of her soft hair, and the pearly beads upon her waxen neck.

Aunt Charlotte contented herself with the bunch of forget-me-nots her little niece had prepared for her. Dolly looked anxiously to see that no sign of the objectionable yellow was apparent in her aunt's dress. But she could discover none, with the exception of a gold brooch, which could hardly be reckoned against her. So they set out very happily for their stroll through green fields and shady lanes. They had not gone far when they were overtaken by Bannock, racing as usual, with his mouth open, tongue hanging out, and panting, as though he had no breath to spare, yet finding enough to run round them and bark, as much as to say, "You thought

to leave me behind, did you? but I have found you out!"

"Oh, aunty, see!" cried Dolly, "Bannock has a blue.

ribbon on."

"Who has decorated him, I wonder?" said Aunt Charlotte.

"I suppose it was James," replied Dolly; "I heard him calling Bannock just now. I wonder where he got the ribbon from?"

"Most likely he begged it of Jessie," replied her aunt. "She has a little box full of odds and ends. It was kind of them to think of pleasing Harty and you in that way."

They walked slowly, for it was very warm, and by the time they came in sight of the cricket-field both Dolly and her aunt began to wish to sit down and

rest.

"How terribly hot they must be, running and playing!" said Aunt Charlotte. "It is quite hot enough taking it easily in the shade as we are doing."

"There are the flags, and the tents!" exclaimed Dolly. "Aunty, do you hear the music? Oh, what a number of people! What a noise! Oh, whatever are they doing?" For they had now come in full sight of the cricket-field, and beheld a strange scene.

A large body of youths appeared moving in a mass, hoisting one high above the rest, upon their shoulders. Loud shouts filled the air; huzzas, and clapping of

hands, and cheering.

The band played louder and

higher, "See the conquering hero comes!"

Flags waved, people laughed, and ladies chattered; and still the crowd came on, bearing high the lad upon their shoulders.

"Whatever is it?" cried Dolly, full of excitement. "Come along, aunty, let us go on and see!"

CHAPTER VI.

MAGIC MUSIC.

It was one of the "Blue" party they were conveying in triumph round the field, on the shoulders of the boy mob, composed of those on the side that had won, and who were shouting themselves hoarse.

These were the cries which filled the air, and greeted Dolly and Aunt Charlotte as they entered the field.

It was Tom-Freddy's brother-who had won the final game for his party, and, indeed, had been the great player throughout. So he was the hero of the day.

To tell the truth, the hero of the day looked somewhat uneasy at his position, for the boys were wild with delight, and by no means gentle in their movements. However, he was set down, safe and sound, in front of the