Cinig, pops, me really u care for ༄་བ་སཅ་ཅ་j and was disappointed at her absence; and forgot it for the time in her anxious watch over Estelle and Mr. Roscommon. She sat between them at first, but when he jumped down to walk up a hill, he got in next to Estelle again; and when he handed them out of the carriage at the door he managed she should be the last, and a long whispered conversation went on, which Estelle assured her mother was about her parasol, which had got somehow at the bottom of the carriage, and Mr. Roscommon was kindly looking for it. Longing to tell Annette about Mr. Brown, she bid Rose stay with her sister, and help in the search; and went upstairs to Annette's room to find her; but Annette was not there, nor anywhere where she searched. Hurriedly she rang the bell, and, not waiting to have it answered, called the servants loudly to inquire where Miss Annette was. All the astonished servants could say was, that she had gone to her room, and bid

After that, some long time, one of the footmen had said he saw Miss Annette cross the

lawn; but they had told him that was impossible-she was lying down ill.

Lady Bouverie sunk down as with the weight of some heavy blow, and spoke no word nor moved until the General, for whom the affrighted girls sent to the house where he was dining, entered the room. Then with a great cry she flew to him, and said,—“ Gone—gone. We've driven her from her home for ever!"

CHAPTER X.

A HAPPY DAY.

Evil is wrought by want of thought,
As well as want of heart.

HEY had not long finished breakfast

the next day at the Porch House,

when, to Blanche's astonishment,

Marguerite and Rose came into the garden. She flew to meet them, and eagerly inquired if anything was the matter.

"Matter! yes. There's always something the matter in our house."

"Any one ill ?"

"Ill-tempered, yes. There's been the most awful row, you know, about Annette and Captain Annerley; and now she's gone. And to say

press it."

"Gone? run away? Oh, Rose !"

"She has, indeed. Papa's just starting after her, and mamma's in hysterics, and oh! it is so wretched," said Marguerite.

"Poor girls!" said Mrs. Wilmont, who had

come out at Blanche's cry, "you had better stay here."

"Oh! yes, please."

66 Do you think your mamma will mind ?"

66 Oh! no. She only storms at us when we go near her. I think she will be glad to get rid of us," said Rose.

"Then stay, by all means; come in."

Marguerite thanked Mrs. Wilmont in her pretty, gracious manner, for asking them, kissed Blanche with her customary fervour, and, agreeing with Rose that it was quite unnecessary to ask any permission—indeed, that Lady Bouverie had ordered that no one should disturb her-they

་་ཅན

cheerful drawing-room, where the hours flew by so quickly and pleasantly that they could scarcely believe their eyes when they saw Mr. Wilmont at the gate, on his return from town What they had been doing to make the time fly so fast they did not know. Talking and laughing, that seemed all; but yet the day had never seemed so short, and no efforts appeared to have been made to wile it away.

"Good gracious!" exclaimed Rose, “why here is Mr. Wilmont. It must be nearly dinner-time, Marguerite, we must go."

"No," said Mrs. Wilmont, smiling, "not if you like to stay. I have sent a note to mamma to say I should like you to stay to dinner, if she had no objection, and she has sent word 'very well,' so make your minds easy on that score. If you can put up with our homely ways and fare, we are glad to have you."

"I am sure, Mrs. Wilmont, there is nothing to