Before long Kate fell almost imperceptibly

into the vacant place, and

the daughter of the house.

became quite like Numberless little by degrees, and it

offices devolved upon her afforded her a real pleasure to be able to minister to the comfort of the two elders. The General, after a stout tussle, resigned to her the management of the tea things, and allowed her to hand him his cup and put it down for him. He let her read his official letters to him; indeed, on one occasion he was betrayed into confiding some more than usually secret correspondence into her hands. to be copied. She tended Lady Jane when suffering from her frequent headaches, noiselessly and with great care; and prescribed once or twice for the General himself, in a matter-of-fact way, which that gentleman, tartar as he was, found it impossible to resist. In these cases she would, I believe, have gone down into the kitchen to fight the cook on her own ground, had her patients required

that mark of attention. But as a rule she did not fall foul of the servants much, for she was afraid of them. Obsequious Hoskins inspired her with a terror she did not overcome till she had been weeks in the house; and one morning when the General was away, and Lady Jane did not make her appearance, she was rather nervous at having to order dinner against so many. But the truth was that all these people were glad to act at the bidding of her cheerful voice. Gilchrist, the lady's maid, was perhaps rather patronizing at first, but she in time gave in, and decided that Kate was to be petted and shown off to the best advantage. Master and mistress shared the sentiments of the servants' hall. Sir Peregrine was quite devoted to his pretty protegée. Lady Jane, too, said Miss Braybrooke was very nice and well-bred. The former set apart one of his horses for her own use, and gave her lessons in riding himself.

The latter was constantly her instructress in other ways, not confessedly, but in a quiet, unobtrusive fashion, that made its own mark. It was impossible for a young girl to be continually associated with Lady Jane without acquiring insensibly something of that grace and charm of manner which is characteristic of English women of the highest rank. If in after life people remarked Kate's thoroughbred air, the explanation of it lay in her long intercourse with her first female friend, Lady Jane Prendergast.

Thus they became very united and affectionate in the General's house. I exclude Delorme, as an outsider; but he afforded them amusement, and took his badgering kindly.

Here they are, sitting out on the lawn at Midwood one summer's afternoon. Kate and Lady Jane on low garden chairs, the latter reading aloud, which she was fond of doing, because she did it well, the former working.

At some little distance Sir Peregrine had a small table all to himself, littered with papers and returns.

Delorme appears.

"What, Dick!" said Lady Jane, putting down her book. "Did you ride or drive?" "Walked. I'm nearly dead. Good morning, Miss Braybrooke."

"Good morning, Captain Delorme," replied Kate, smiling.

Then, seeing he was about to speak, she hastened to say quickly

"No, Captain Delorme, I'm not still at tatting; I haven't been playing croquet, and I'm not going to change the flowers."

Lady Jane opened her eyes, and said"What does she mean?"

"She means to be severe, aunt; she's always down upon me."

"Not at all, Lady Jane; I'll tell you the real truth. Whenever Captain Delorme comes here he always begins with one of those questions,

so I thought I'd forestall him with the answers, just to see what he'd have to say next."

"Like the old story of 'My Lord, Buckingham is taken, and they've cut off his head,'" said the General.

"But I shouldn't say Richard was ever short of conversation," said her ladyship, "such as it is."

"Small talk is so difficult, Aunt Jane; I can always get on if the subject is really interesting and instructive."

"Meaning, Captain Delorme," said Kate, "that the style of talk you are obliged to address to me cripples your powers. If you give me fair notice, I'll study beforehand any subject you wish to discuss, so long as you spare me your three questions."

"Don't you ever find it a nuisance to be so clever, Richard ?" said Sir Peregrine, gravely.

"On the contrary, sir."