CHAPTER XIII.

AGNES AND HARRY.

M

R. Russell travelled with the little girls as far as London, where Herbert met them, and took charge of them for the remainder of the journey. Milly's delight at again seeing her brother was unbounded, and he seemed quite as much pleased to have her by his side once more, and to see her looking so well and happy. The journey to Fairfield was all too short for the excited little woman, who had so much both to hear and to tell. Her tongue never ceased for one instant, and Herbert thought she would be quite worn out before she arrived at her destination; but the nearer they got to Fairfield the higher her spirits rose, and it was not until they were quite close to the house that she began to feel shy at the thought of the new faces she was to see. But when, on driving up to the house, she caught sight of Jane and Mary waiting at the door to receive her, their faces beaming with pleasure, this feeling was quickly driven away, and the next moment she was giving them a warm greeting, and asking after every one and everything about the place in the same breath.

Meanwhile Herbert had taken Ethel into the drawingroom, where Mrs. Neville was sitting. 'Oh! here you are,

Milly's Surprise.

123

she cried, springing up from her chair to meet them. 'I thought you would never come; but where's Milly? This is Ethel, I'm sure, from the description.'

'Yes, this is Ethel; Milly is in the hall, asking a hundred thousand questions, and so- Oh, here she comes. Well, Milly, now for this formidable introduction; here's Agnes-'

'Longing to see little Milly,' interrupted Mrs. Neville, giving her a warm kiss. 'Herbert's an old teaze, isn't he, Milly? I'm sure you won't find me very formidable.'

6

Are you really Agnes ?' asked Milly, looking up in some surprise at Mrs. Neville. 'You look so young; and how pretty you are!'

Herbert burst out laughing. My dear Milly, spare Agnes's blushes. Did you think I was going to marry an old fright?'

'No; but I didn't think Agnes would look so very-very -so exactly like a young lady, I mean,' said Millicent, in whose imagination the mother of a boy eight years old. was pictured as a much more staid and dignified person than the slight, girlish-looking figure before her.

'You thought I should wear caps and mittens, and perhaps spectacles, didn't you?' said Agnes, laughing and blushing.

'No, of course not,' exclaimed Milly indignantly; 'as if Herbert would like that! But I'm so glad you are so nicelooking, I am really.'

There was a general laugh at Milly's naiveté, and then a great noise as of stamping and running was heard outside. 'Oh, that must be Harry,' said Mrs. Neville. I'll call him in;' but before she could reach the door, it was flung open very wide, and a boy's shrill voice cried out, 'Out of the

way, good people; make room for the favourite of the Derby. She's being exercised, and she's very skittish. So ho! now, my lady, gently, gently;' and, to Milly's and Ethel's no small surprise, in ran a little old lady, with a profusion of white curls, followed by Master Harry, who was driving her with red reins fastened round her arms. 'Oh, mamma ! oh, Harry!' exclaimed Agnes reproachfully; but neither horse nor driver took any notice of her words, and the latter called out, 'Now, Silverhair, let's see your paces; gee up-that's right, so ho! my lady, not too fast, mind the chairs; then, in an undertone, 'kick up, Grandmamma.' His horse did so, and then, on being told to rear, obeyed the command in the funniest manner possible.

No one could help laughing; but Agnes at once put a stop to the proceedings, and as she unharnessed her mother, said, 'Oh, mamma, why do you spoil this child so? The idea of his making you his horse! Harry, you mustn't do it again.'

Harry laughed mischievously, and, looking at Ethel and Milly, said, What jolly fun! I can drive tandem now!' 'Don't scold him, dear,' said Mrs. Leigh, still panting from her late exertions; 'I offered to be the dear boy's horse. I found him crying up-stairs, because he had no one to play with. We had a good run all round the corridors; and then nothing would please him but that I must come down here and show myself in harness! Well, Herbert, safe back again? and are these the two little lassies? Come here, dears, and let me look at you. This is Milly, suppose, with the fair hair, blue eyes, and little turn-up nose, that means mischief, eh? I thought so; and this is Ethel with the dark hair,

I

Well, you both look nice

grey eyes, and straight nose.
little girls, and I'm very glad to see you.'

'What a funny old lady!' thought both the children, and, as if in answer to their thoughts, Harry said—

'Isn't she a funny old Grandmamma? I call her my Silverhair; she's just like the little old woman in the story of the Three Bears.'

'Isn't he a piece of impudence?' laughed little Mrs. Leigh, shaking her finger at him. Bless his bonny face, his granny would do anything in the world for him, she would.' His granny has a great deal to answer for, I think,' said Herbert. It's quite time the stern stepfather stepped in to stop all this spoiling; isn't it, Agnes ?'

'I like that,' said Harry, with an air of supreme contempt; 'you stern, indeed! Why, I could turn you round my little finger!'

'You impudent little mortal!' said Herbert, running after him, and catching him up spite of screams and struggles. 'Yes, no wonder you look shocked, Milly. Now, mamma, what is to be done with this refractory young gentleman ?shall I carry him off to bed?'

'No, no,' shouted Harry; 'it's not bed-time yet. I want to talk to Aunt Milly and the other one.'

Ah! but it is bed-time,' said Mrs. Neville; 'so go along, sir. I'll come up and say good-night to you. off, Herbert.'

Take him

But this was no very easy task, for Harry's struggles and kicks increased until Herbert could hardly hold him. He had no intention, however, of giving way to him.

'It's no good, young man, you'll have to go. Now then, say good-night all round.'

'No,' said Harry, sturdily, only to my horse; I don't love any of the others.'

'Bless his little heart! Bring him here, Herbert. Good

night, my precious ;'-in a whisper, 'we'll have another run together to-morrow.'

'Good-night, Silverhair.' And as, still held by Mr. Grant, he bent down to kiss her, he caught hold of her cap and pulled it off, bringing with it, strange to say, all the beautiful silver tresses that adorned the old lady's head.

The sight of poor Mrs. Leigh's bald pate, and her look of dismay at the catastrophe, was too much for Ethel and Milly. They went off into fits of laughter, in which Harry joined as he held up his trophy in triumph.

'Oh, you naughty, naughty boy!' shrieked his grandmother; 'give me back my cap directly. How dare you, sir!'

'Harry! Harry!' called out his mother, perfectly horrified at her son's audacity, and in an agony lest any of the servants should come into the room.

'Give it to Mrs. Leigh directly, Harry,' said Herbert, very sternly, at the same time with the greatest difficulty controlling his inclination to laugh; and, thinking he had gone far enough, Harry tossed the cap and front at his Grandmother, calling out—

'Don't be angry, dear little Silverhair; I knew it was all pinned on. Oh! what a lark, to be sure!'

Herbert carried him off, and Mrs. Leigh ran upstairs to restore her head-dress to its usual unruffled condition. Meanwhile the two little girls began apologizing to Agnes for their laughter, and said they hoped Mrs. Leigh would not think them very rude.

'How could any one help laughing?' said Mrs. Neville; 'I feel very much ashamed of my little boy. I don't know what you must think of him; but really it's his grandmother's fault; she has spoilt him to such a degree that I can do no