I Lady Beatrice, clasping her hands, "I never thought on the future world, so much, oh, so immeasurably much more important than this, till I was staying with you and Mr. Gray! Now you must talk to me or read to me every day. I have spoken to mamma; she says may say anything I like to you; but the doctor has forbidden my going to church again! Only think! I am never to go to church again before we leave England next month! They say 'it might be dangerous.' Oh, how little that doctor knows the real good those calm hours do one! However, I promised; and then they let me send for you. It seems like the country seeing you again, Alice, like those green woods and bright flowers! Oh, this London is so hot, so oppressive!" Alice could not contradict her, for the room was sultry at the moment she spoke; and the brilliant sunbeams that poured in only illuminated lines of dust which seemed to choke the air. The window was wide open, but the air of the little court was anything but refreshing. Lady Beatrice leaned back on her sofa, languid and exhausted from speaking so much. "Can I do anything for you now?" said Alice, gently. 66 Play me some of the old chants, " replied Lady Beatrice; "I shall fancy I hear the organ again at Evesham, and you must sing the words. I love music now as much as you always did, Alice; it seems all there is left to me here of pure bright things. You must hear Emmie sing some day she sings very sweetly-all songs though; but yet the tones are heavenly; if the words are foolish it cannot alter those!" So Alice sate down to the pianoforte, and played out of her little book all the chants and psalm tunes used in Evesham church; and then she went on to the few simple tunes she could remember; and Beatrice listened, entranced, and said it quite revived her. Soon the sound of voices and footsteps was heard approaching, however, and as the merry walking party poured into the room, Alice escaped up-stairs to her own little chamber, to ponder over all she had heard that morning, and write a letter to her father. "Little things, On little wings, Bear little souls to Heaven!" HEIR OF REDCLYFFE. "OH, Minnie!" cried Alice, "what have you done!" As Alice Gray was going downstairs a few days after the one we have been describing, she heard a loud crash in Lady Estcourt's dressing-room, the door of which stood open. She looked in, and there was Minnie, perched on a high stool near the fireplace, looking the very picture of dismay, while a beautiful china vase she had apparently been taking from its bracket to inspect more nearly lay shivered to pieces at her feet. Alice went on her knees to pick up the scattered pieces, while Minnie sobbed out, "What shall I do? it is Mamma's favourite bit of china; and she tells me never to touch her things; oh, dear! oh, dear!" "What shall you do!" said a man's voice behind Alice, and Lord Aylmer walked in. "Why it's easy enough, my little sister: set the window open and the door so-look! and then declare you know nothing about it; and if the wind blows the curtain about, as it's doing now, it certainly might have done it perfectly all by itself! This pretty little Alice will tell no tales, I am sure," said he, laying his hand on her head as he spoke. Minnie glanced at her at the same time with an imploring look, and clasped her hands earnestly as she exclaimed, "Oh, do promise, Alice! do promise!" Alice had never seen Lord Aylmer but once before that evening; and he was a tall grand grown-up looking gentleman, with black hair and moustache; and a very off-hand way of speaking; and her very heart sank within her at the thought of contradicting him, and grieving bright little Minnie-still she thought she must do it. She knew how wrong it would be to tell a lie, or to let people believe a falsehood, and she spoke bravely though firmly,—" I never tell tales, Lord Aylmer; I should like to help you, Minnie dear, but I could not say 'yes' to a falsehood, you know; and Lady Estcourt will be sure to question us all!" 66 "A nice friend you are!" said Lord Aylmer, scornfully. "Oh Alice!" cried Minnie, "how can you be so cruel!" But Alice held firm, though she turned quite white and pale, and tears filled her eyes. "You know I must not tell a lie," was all she said. "Who says you must not?" asked Lord Aylmer, in an angry tone. a "God!" said the child, reverently, after |