"What's the matter?'

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Oh, the mouse; faith, but it's enough to make a cat laugh; and Mrs. Ellsworth's chignon; oh, my side, it does ache; o-o-h," groaned the lad.

"What a good thing it did not bite her. Where did it come from, Pat? I believe you had a hand in it, you rascal, I really do, Patrick O'Connell."

At this Pat roared again, and Charlie asked, "Where did it come from?

"Out of a box I had in my pocket. Faith, but the craythur did kick when he found himself a prisoner," said the boy, as soon as he recovered breath to speak. come the lads; ye'll not split, Charlie ?"

"Here

Yes, the lads, or some of them, Jackie Spenser, Louis Durand, and Dysart Leland were truly coming, but not a shade of suspicion did their countenances exhibit. Mischievous though Pat was, they would not have deemed him capable of playing such a trick.

Little Dysie slid up to Ellis, and whispered, "Charlie, papa has come, and would like to see you."

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"To see me?" enquired Charlie, in some astonishment. Yes, come along, old fellow, he wants to ask you something, a favour, I believe," said the child, smiling, and linking his arm in that of his friend, drew him gently away from the group of boys, who were holding a discussion as to the probable cause of a mouse having been so impudent as to enter their dining-room.

The reception-room, where the boys received their visitors, was plainly, yet tastefully, furnished.

The

window commanded a view of the garden, and the hills in the far distance.

Here the two friends found Mr. Leland awaiting their arrival.

He rose as they entered, and extended a hand to Charlie, regarding the beautiful boyish face searchingly as he did so.

The colour deepened on the delicate features; but, let him search as he would, naught was written there save purity and goodness of heart.

Apparently satisfied with his scrutiny, after a few questions as to the health, welfare, &c., of Charlie, he entered upon the object of his visit.

"I believe you have no friends in Norstone, my boy; have you ?"

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No, sir," replied Charlie, a deep blush mounting even to the roots of his fair hair; "None."

Well, Dysart tells me that you are and always have been, very kind to him, in fact, that you are a friend in whom he can trust, and I come, in Mrs. Leland's name, and my own, to invite you to spend the first Sunday in the month with us. You will be allowed to do so; I have asked permission for you, from Mr. Ellsworth. Will you Charlie?'

come,

"I scarcely know how to thank you; I should so like to come; but,—”

"But what?" asked Mr. Leland.

"I am poor," said the boy, blushing painfully; "I don't know whether I ought to step out of my sphere,' as Mr. Ellsworth says."

E

"If that is all your objection, you will come. I don't look at your wealth, my dear boy, but at your character, and knowing that to be good, regard you as a fitting associate for my little son. I shall tell Mrs. Leland we may expect you."

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Good-bye, Dysie; good-bye, Charlie. Don't forget." Good-bye, papa," said Dysie, holding up his little lips for a kiss; "I'll bring him, he'll come with me. Please, papa, give my love to mamma and Audrey; I shall be so pleased to see them.”

When his father had disappeared, the child turned to Ellis, and said, "You'll go with me home, won't you Charlie? I want you. Why, what stuff to object because you are not rich. Who cares about that, I should like to know? Nobody with any sense. Papa always says it is the heart God looks at, not the money, nor the dress, so, Charlie, you see that it makes no difference about your wealth. You will come, old boy, won't you?"

"Yes, thank you, my kind little Dysie; you are a real brick to stick to me thus," and Charlie held the tiny hand lovingly in his.

"Well, we're brothers, so I ought to stick to you," replied the child; "You promised one day to be my brother, didn't you, when Jackie and Pat were making a like bargain between themselves? So, of course, Charlie, it's all right."

CHAPTER V.

THE LELANDS.

BOUT a quarter of a mile from the Grammar School, on the Ellerton-road, stood a very pretty white house, half covered by a vine, which in the season produced abundant clusters of rich purple

grapes.

Very cool and tempting looked the green lawn on this fair summer day, with its fresh soft grass and well-kept gravel-paths.

Very cool, too, looked the house itself, embowered in green trees, and vine-clad, the very embodiment of peace and comfort. Truly, to the owner thereof, "the lines must have fallen in pleasant places; " truly to him had descended "a goodly heritage."

At the drawing-room window, apparently watching for some one, stood a lady, gazing out upon the fair scene below.

Youthful in appearance, and very pretty, too, was Mrs. Leland, with a gentle, serene expression of countenance that told of an existence passed, hitherto, in life's sunny walks, an existence over which no storms could ever have gathered, leaving their ineffaceable traces.

Very calm had been her life, very bright and cloudless her sky. Reared in comfort and plenty, she had known only sunshine, and since she left the home of her childhood for that of Mr. Leland, protected by his loving care, no reverses had fallen upon her with their chilling influences.

The management of two children, such as Audrey and Dysart, was, compared with the work of some mothers, an easy task, owing to their tractable and docile dispositions.

Audrey was now about twelve years of age; a daughter in whom any mother might rejoice. By nature gentle, studious, and easy to govern, no stern voice was needed to rebuke, no strong hand to restrain. Clever too, was Audrey, and thoughtful beyond her years. Her talents were varied; in music, drawing, and English composition she excelled particularly, being already a finished performer on the pianoforte, of which she was very fond. In fancy-work, however, she took no delight; poor Audrey, with no amount of teaching could she learn to crotchet a respectable antimacassar.

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"I can't, mamma," she would say; "I don't like it; I would rather practise the driest of studies, or work the hardest of hard sums, than sit down to crotchet or knit. Please, mamma, don't make me do it." And Mrs. Leland, being a sensible lady, did not enforce it, but allowed the child to follow the bent of her mind, seeing that bent did not tend in a wrong direction.

Suppose we enter, and see with what Miss Audrey is now occupying her time.