I do not want to disturb any one, but only to finish the sketch I had begun from the shelter of the porch. Your aunt has given me permission to sit here; I saw her just now as I came round by the back of the house."

Kate was rather frightened at the idea of being left alone with this unknown lady, but something in Miss Elwyn's face and smile. reassured her, and she was very soon quite at her ease. The sketch was of course the chief topic of conversation at first.

Kate had seen many drawings in the shopwindows in London, but she had never before seen any one actually engaged in painting, so her interest was very great.

Miss Elwyn drew well, and had a real love for her art. It was positive happiness to her to see the blue sky flecked with soft white clouds, and the deep shadows creeping gradually over the dark brown roof of the Manor farm, while behind stood the gray spire of the parish church, pointing upwards to heaven.

"But how is it you are not in the hayfield with the others ?" said she at last to Kate.

"It was so hot when Lucy went, I did not care to go," said Kate.

"It was hot certainly an hour ago," said Miss Elwyn," and I must say you have found a delightful seat in this charming old porch; what a pleasure the country must be to you after a town life. I am sure you must feel wonderfully happy here, though, after all, there is nothing like home, and I daresay the pleasure of being with your father, and making his home bright and cheerful, must be very great."

Kate hardly knew what to say in answer to this remark. She did not feel particularly happy in the country, and it was quite a new idea to her that it could possibly add to her happiness to contribute to that of those around her.

Miss Elwyn, with the quick eye for the troubles of others, that a thoroughly unselfish person generally has, saw that something was amiss, so to change the subject she told Kate she might look through her portfolio of sketches if she liked. This was a permission of which Kate gladly availed herself, and she opened it eagerly. First, there were some scenes in England, home-like bits, such as the view before them, then sea views, with sparkling waves and bold rocky coasts; then came

some with more vivid colouring, telling of a different climate and country. Some of these had brightly dressed Turks and Arabs in the foregrounds.

"What country is this?" said Kate, as she took up the first of these. "I am sure it is not England."

No," said Miss Elwyn, "those are little bits of the Crimea, very small and slight, but, such as they are, they serve to remind me of the scenes I have seen there."

"Have you been there lately?" said Kate. "No, it is some years since my brother and I were there," said Miss Elwyn.

"Since the war, I suppose?" said Kate.

"The war was at an end when we left," said Miss Elwyn; then, turning over the drawings, she began explaining them to Kate.

"I do like to hear about foreign countries," said Kate, "and particularly about wars, and brave deeds done in them, as I have read of in books. I should so much like to have been a man, and then I would have been a soldier, and have done great things; but, after all, what can a woman do, except Joan of Arc, and one or two like her?"