addressed Jessie, with a pleasant smile that won

her heart.

"I am glad to see there are young people here! I had not known that such was the case, or I would have brought my brother's ward with me."

Miss Prissy here remarked that the family was a large one, and was just about to inquire if Miss Mordaunt lived in the village, when Mr. Clayton entered unexpectedly; and then on Miss Prissy's ears, and she could scarcely believe them, fell,

"It is very kind of you to call so soon! I have just come in through the garden and surprised my younger children in familiar conversation with Lady Glenmore, who is sitting on a water-butt!"

"Edward!" ejaculated Miss Clayton, starting violently. Miss Mordaunt only smiled pleasantly, and said she hoped the acquaintance would ripen. Then followed some conversation about parish matters, during which Miss Prissy spoke little. Had she not devoted all her attention for days to the subject of the expected visit from the Hall? and now the end of it all is that the countess-yes, the countess

-introduces herself by sitting on a waterbutt!

When Miss Mordaunt rose to take leave, she expressed a hope that Jessie would come and spend a day at the Hall. Jessie's face lit up with pleasure; but a vexed colour flushed it a second later, when Miss Priscilla, with all her dignity, said,

"I am sure she will feel it an honour!"

Even Mr. Clayton looked surprised, and Jessie, who was grateful always for kindness, felt that her annoyance at her aunt's manner made her seem ungracious to Miss Mordaunt. But the last-named lady was very clear-sighted, and recognising at once that the mother was sorely missed in the family she was visiting, she took no notice of the formal speech of the aunt, but said in genial tones,

"Suppose, Mr. Clayton, you lead the way to the water-butt. If your daughter will come out with us, I can make her acquainted with Lady Glenmore."

This proposal was welcomed, and Jessie quickly slipped on a warm ulster and her hat, and followed the others to the garden. Violet was still on the barrel, leaning down engrossed

with a history of the family as made known to her by Milly and Eddie. The latter had already informed her, with evident desire for sympathy, that they had to bring all their toys out because Aunt Prissy was always bothering about a horrid countess coming, and wouldn't let them play in the house! As Mr. Clayton approached with his guest, he laughingly addressed the young lady on the water

butt:

"If your ladyship will permit me to help you down, my daughter will be more on a level when introduced!"

Violet blushed and smiled, and when she had taken a look at the face of her proposed new acquaintance, she was anxious to be on terrafirma once more; but she replied to Mr. Clayton by saying, "You see, if I get down it must be on this side, where the ladder is!"

"Very true, I see; but here's a gate."

"Oh, yes," said Violet; "I remember Mr. Askew always used to come up to the Hall through the grounds."

"Then by all means, my dear, descend from your perch and unbar the gate, for it is evidently bolted on that side," said Miss Mordaunt good

humouredly, after trying in vain to unlatch the

green gate.

At last Violet's efforts succeeded, and she emerged, her jacket tinted with green from her long sojourn on the damp water-butt.

"Here is a young friend for you, Violet," said Miss Mordaunt, kindly taking Jessie's hand, and then the two girls drew near to each other in that peculiarly shy manner in which very young people meet for the first time; although a few hours of unrestrained intercourse make them as familiar as if they had been friends for years!

"We have no lessons until February, Mr. Clayton; our governess will arrive then, and I think it would be pleasant for the young people to meet as often as you will allow your daughter to come.”

"Jessie will be glad, I am sure," said Mr. Clayton warmly.

"Well, then, Jessie-for so I must call you,will you come to-morrow about eleven o'clock, and spend the day?" asked Miss Mordaunt ; and the invitation being accepted, the visitors departed.

She's nice!" decided Milly, looking at the

closed gate through which Violet had gone away; "not a bit like a countess."

"My dear child!" cried Mr. Clayton, amazed, "what do you mean ?”

"Why," explained Milly, in a tone that did not imply a great respect for the peerage, "you know how fussy they are, papa; and they don't like dolls."

"Nor wooden horses," added Eddie.

"And the girl on the tub liked both," wound up Milly.

Jessie had to explain the matter to her bewildered father, and as Aunt Prissy's frequent interruptions in playtime had to be mentioned, Mr. Clayton wisely refrained from making observations.

That evening, after the young people had gone to bed, and when Mr. Clayton was busy ruminating on some changes in parish work which he desired to see effected, Miss Prissy broke the silence, which had been unusually long, by saying in an offended tone,—

"I think you might have told me, Edward!" "E-h-h?" queried the curate, slowly recalling himself from his brown study. "What did you say, Prissy?"