lawn familiar voices calling my Christian name.

With

out looking, I recognised the voices; so impatiently throwing my brush down I hurried from my room with the impetuosity that marks youth. In front of the hall door stood a little group. They might not have attracted attention from a stranger, but all were dear to me, for long had they been my friends, and even intimate friends, and although I did not love them all alike, I regarded each with brotherly affection. First, I will describe the eldest, she was about two and twenty, rather under the general height, with a beautiful, warm, sunny complexion, grey laughing eyes, shaded with the longest eyelashes; while her mouth always wore a saucy smile, which made her regular pearl-like teeth look doubly attractive; she was slightly inclined to be stout, but there was a grace about her figure that never failed to attract the most casual observer, and how well did she know this, for study had made her mistress of the art of gesture. Wherever or whenever she walked or rested, her attitude would have charmed a sculptor. Beauty of face alone may be attractive, but when it is combined with grace of carriage, and perfect contour of shape, it is irresistible. To myself at least it was so, and time, even young as I am, has already told me that we mortals think much alike on such matters. The remainder of the party are soon described. The second was a handsome, well-grown girl of sixteen. The youngest promised to be good-looking, but she was only entering her teens. It is necessary to say the eldest was governess, the others were pupils. But all is not yet known of this fascinating coterie, which was to be

met daily wandering through some of the sunny lanes or wood-protected paths that abounded in the vicinity of my home. Yes, I have not said that a dear, old white pony and an equally antiquated greyhound ever performed the duties of servant and guardian to their mistresses, and kinder ones it would be hard to find.

When I joined them, I was greeted by all with the information that they were in search of me to accompany them to the shore of a neighbouring loch to gather pebbles. What pleasanter occupation could I have? what was it possible for me to undertake, which would cause the afternoon to drift more speedily away? So few minutes elapsed before white pony, dog, and all were en route to our destination.

That bank of gravel-what an attractive spot it was. The greenest woods formed its background; the bluest waves, seldom ever crested with a line of spray, broke upon its margin, while away about two or three miles in the distance frowned one of those noble old structures that told of the age when might was right.

But this castle, for so it was, would have been sombre from the dark-brown stone of which it was composed, were it not that the greenest ivy climbed in dense masses over its heavy walls, or hung in festoons, floating to and fro in every breath of wind, from the summit of buttress, embrasure, or turret. The sun's rapid approach to the western horizon, told but too plainly that the time for departure had arrived, yet all seemed to avoid the subject, each was loth to pronounce the words that must terminate an afternoon

that had been laden with pleasure to all. But when such a heinous offence as staying out beyond stated hours had previously occurred, my companions had always placed the blame on me, and their parents seemed ever to consider it a duty to treat me as the scape-goat. Thus I felt responsible, and in spite of numerous entreaties, just to wait ten minutes more, I turned a deaf ear to all appeals, and ultimately succeeded in getting the company to fall into marching order. Ten minutes afterwards the road was reached; we had proceeded on it but a few yards when a carriage overtook us. When abreast of us it stopped, for in it was the mother of my younger companions. For them there was room inside. Mademoiselle, the governess, on the white pony, under my guidance, and protected by the greyhound, were to reach home by a shorter route across the fields.

As the carriage rolled away, and the murmur of the wheels became more indistinct, and the rising drifts of dust obscured it from view, I was recalled from my reverie by my companion saying in the sweetest intonation of what ever was a charming voice,—

"Well, Sir Knight, I want your assistance to mount, and methinks that it would be more polite if your attentions were confined to those that are with you, and not permitted to go wool-gathering."

Laughing the charge away, and assuring my companion that in such company it was impossible it could be just, I took her foot in my hand, and with a spring almost imperceptible, she glided into the saddle.

Our distance was fully three miles; a portion of the

way was woodland, marked only by a bridle-path, and gates and stiles were numerous, whenever our course crossed arable land. Necessarily there were many delays; I fear that many delays were made that were unnecessary. In fact neither pony, greyhound, nor ourselves appeared in the slightest hurry to reach home. The setting sun, the dark clouds with their fiery linings, that indicated the place where he had retired, the droning bettle, the frisking rabbit, all made their impressions, on myself at least, who ever had an intense love of nature. For many minutes I had not spoken, no want of courtesy to my companion; but my meditation was interrupted by the question, "What were my thoughts?"

Scarcely could I explain them, consequently I prevaricated and invented a reply, that before long the time must come when I must leave home and those I loved for other scenes. Here I was interrupted, and in a most hesitating voice, my companion asked, “Was she included in the number?" What could I say but yes? and to my surprise, as she held out her soft, white, small hand for me to press my lips to, in language low but clear, she murmured with an expression of love, "I will never forget you."

Thus ended our journey; a few minutes after I lifted her from the saddle, and she disappeared to change her attire before we all sat down to tea.

Commonplace as the words were that she used, I thought and thought of them again and again; for either the feeling with which she spoke them, or the intonation of her voice, caused me to hope that what

she had said was no set form of speech, but expressed the feelings of a truthful nature.

Ten o'clock at length arrived, how much too soon it came; for no evening of my previous life had ever fled so rapidly, nor had the time of my departure ever appeared so objectionable; but go I must.

I had two miles to walk, and my father insisted on all being home by half-past ten. I did not dread being locked out, but I did fear his anger if his orders were disobeyed, for military men of the school of fifty years ago inherited one of the vices of our soldiers who served in Flanders.

The old gentleman's bark was worse than his bite; but he did bark tremendously. I fortunately was punctual, and therefore did not at this time incur the penalty of transgression.

From that day I became lazy and indolent. My father, who intended me for the army, was annoyed, as he was particularly anxious that I should pass a good examination, so naturally, when I would not listen to his admonitions, he became cross. Governors may appear sometimes to be hard upon a fellow; but, by Jove, believe me, they are invariably in the right. I know mine was, anyhow.

The fact is, I believe the pretty governess had turned my head, and I would neither listen to reason nor anything else. So the old gentleman got more and more annoyed, till there was a regular breach between us.

When I look back on those days now, my conduct to my father seems inexcusable, for although he was occasionally a little strict in discipline, there never was

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