orgot to wish that she had been a boy.
The pleasure he felt in her appearance was increased by the fact that her
dress was his own idea.

During luncheon Stephen was fairly silent; she usually chattered all
through as freely as a bird sings. Stephen was silent because the
occasion was important. Besides, Daddy wasn't all alone, and therefore
had not to be cheered up. Also--this in postscript form--Harold was
silent! In her present frame of mind Harold could do no wrong, and what
Harold did was right. She was unconsciously learning already a lesson
from his presence.

That evening when going to bed she came to say good-night to Daddy. After
she had kissed him she also kissed 'old Mr. Harold,' as she now called
him, and as a matter of course kissed Harold also. He coloured up at
once. It was the first time a girl had ever kissed him.

The next day from early morning until bed-time was one long joy to
Stephen, and there were few things of interest that Harold had not been
shown; there were few of the little secrets which had not been shared
with him as they went about hand in hand. Like all manly boys Harold was
good to little children and patient with them. He was content to follow
Stephen about and obey all her behests. He had fallen in love with her
to the very bottom of his boyish heart.

When the guests were going, Stephen stood with her father on the steps to
see them off. When the carriage had swept behind the farthest point in
the long avenue, and when Harold's cap waving from the window could no
longer be seen, Squire Norman turned to go in, but paused in obedience to
the unconscious restraint of Stephen's hand. He waited patiently till
with a long sigh she turned to him and they went in together.

That night before she went to bed Stephen came and sat on her father's
knee, and after sundry pattings and kissings whispered in his ear:

'Daddy, wouldn't it be nice if Harold could come here altogether?
Couldn't you ask him to? And old Mr. Harold could come too. Oh, I wish
he was here!'

CHAPTER IV--HAROLD AT NORMANSTAND

Two years afterwards a great blow fell upon Harold. His father, who had
been suffering from repeated attacks of influenza, was, when in the low
condition following this, seized with pneumonia, to which in a few days
he succumbed. Harold was heart-broken. The affection which had been
between him and his father had been so consistent that he had never known
a time whe