the purpose, and of giving her own ready help, when another person appeared on the scene, and cut short the conference.

This was none other than Grace's especial abhorrence, Nurse Thirswell. She was returning with all the small M'Ivors from a walk, for which she had in vain sought Miss Grace. Now here she was, talking to a bold bad

woman.

'My gracious goodness, Miss Grace,' screamed nurse, 'I am sure I can't be answerable for you to your mamma, if you go picking up all sorts of odd people, who aint no acquaintance at all fit for young ladies! no acquaintance at all,' repeated she, fixing on mother O'Neill a stare of dislike and disdain, which the latter returned with a gaze of defiance and contempt.

Grace was startled into sullen silence, which was indeed her usual weapon of defence. But perhaps this sudden apparition of nurse had surprised her into the consciousness that she was doing and saying what neither mother, nor father, nor sister, nor aunt, could approve of. But there was no need for her to speak! The mother and nurse had too much to say to each other; and for some minutes they filled the air with it all, neither paying the slightest heed to her opponent, until at last mother O'Neill remembered that she might peril her own schemes by abusing this nurse; so, gathering her red cloak about her, she stalked deliberately down the path, and disappeared into the road beyond.

Then nurse turned to begin upon Miss Grace, but she too was gone! she had taken advantage of the clatter between the women to slip away, and make off home. Mrs Thirswell hurried after her, as fast as the train of children with her would allow, and took every opportunity,

favourable or unfavourable, all the rest of the evening, to din into Grace's ears how unmanageable she was!-how unlike every good child, and Roger in particular thereby increasing Grace's irritation, and effectually destroying any feelings of compunction, that perhaps might otherwise have visited her.

CHAPTER IV.

FIRST ENDEAVOURS.

'Build to-day, then, strong and sure,

On a firm and ample base;

And ascending and secure

Shall to-morrow find its place.'

Longfellow.

SABEL, as we have said, left the dressing-room to seek Roger, and release him from his confinement. She found him in the middle of the

floor, seated astride on the legs of an overturned chair, and 'letting off' his wrath and impatience, by digging one heel after another against its top. The sight of him almost dispelled the gravity with which she had started upon her mission.

'Roger!' she exclaimed, 'you are free, you may go !' 'And what was I ever shut up for?' inquired he. 'Was Hotspur to worry my sister as he pleased?'

'No, certainly not. Uncle William thought you a bold plucky boy. But you know, Hotspur was in his house; he felt obliged to protect his guest, and if you had not been sent here, you might have met him again.'

'Ah well! he'll be here next week, and won't I kick him then digging his heel at the chair.

6

'But that's exactly what you must not do!' cried Isabel. Aunt Jane has been talking very seriously to me, and she positively forbids such disputes for the future, especially to a guest.'

"Then she shouldn't have such guests,' retorted Roger, rising from his perch. I can't, and I won't, help kicking fellows like that.'

'It must be very tempting,' she replied; but, indeed, most seriously, you must avoid disputes here; and it is not only with Hotspur,' continued Isabel, anxious to finish her message, particularly as she observed Roger's thoughts turning towards his gaiters.

'I am going my ride,' explained the boy. 'What else ?'

'With Grace-you know, you were teasing Grace before Hotspur came.'

'What nonsense!' cried Roger, with a gaiter in each hand, 'bosh! I was peeping at and bothering Grace; that's not a bit like setting a dog at her.'

'No-but Roger! that teasing and bothering does great mischief-it makes Grace so frightfully angry-,' but the boy's toss of impatient contempt made the lecturer falter.

'It does her a world of good, then, instead of harm. And she is too good fun,' added he, laughing at the remembrance- but I shall be late for my ride if I don't be quick. Do you know where uncle and Tom are?'

Isabel did not answer, but stood silently at the window. So Roger peeped round her shoulder to see what she was thinking of, as soon as his gaiters were safely on, and observing how very grave she looked, he slipped his arm round her waist, repeating: 'It does her good, now, Isabel!'

'I don't believe it,' replied Isabel, 'she gets frightfully angry!'

'Well-but she ought not to be so cross.'

'I am afraid you are a poor help to make her more good-tempered or happy!-I believe you do her much mischief, but whether you do or not, aunt Jane forbids most positively such a continuance of quarrelling here, and bid me speak to you, and try and control Grace. Poor girl, what chance have I unless you will cease provoking her ?'

'You are going to manage Grace! H— o! whistled her disrespectful brother. 'Aunt had much better have asked me. You need not smile so, now, Isabel! That same teasing does manage her, when nothing else will. She hates it so, that she will be quiet to avoid it. You dont know Grace, and I do.'

'I am certain that it does nothing but harm,' replied Isabel.

'And what do you mean to do?— WELL?'

But Isabel was obliged to confess that she did not know!

'Nor any body else. Now, I tell you that I do know. Listen here. Nurse bullies shamefully, and Grace sulks or storms, but never does a thing she can help. Papa scolds, and Grace gets out of his sight. I am always after her, and I tease, and she does mind me. I can get her out walking, or to dinner, or to bed quietly, when no one else can. You cannot, no one can manage Grace unless she's a bit afraid of them.'

'But it has not at all answered,' repeated Isabel. 'It cannot make her love you.'

'My goodness! no-I believe she hates me!'
'Roger, Roger !' cried his sister.

'Well-but-I suppose she always has,' said Roger. 'Nurse managed that before we were born, almost,'