ie," returned Cis.

"Ay, a very pearl of an auntie. Try and be a good boy. Above all, do
what you are bid. I never did what I was bid, and you see what I have
come to."

"I don't think there is much the matter with you," said Cis, eying him
steadily. Then, with a sudden change in the current of his thoughts, he
cried, "Do come, auntie; the cakes will be quite cold."

"I will keep you no longer from the banquet," said De Burgh. "I know you
are wishing me at--well, my probable destination; so good-by for the
present." Then, to Cecil: "Shall I come and see you at--what is the name
of the place?--Sandbourne, and take you out for a sail in a boat--a big
boat?"

"Oh, yes, please."

"Will you come with me, though I _am_ like the wicked uncle?"

"Yes, if auntie may come too."

"If she begs very hard she may. Well, good-morning, Miss Liddell. I'll
not forget Sandbourne, _via_ Southwestern Railway." So saying, De Burgh
shook hands and departed.

The next day Miss Payne escorted her suddenly increased party to their
marine retreat, returning the following afternoon to attend to the
details of letting her house, for which she had had a good offer.

Then came a breathing space of welcome repose to Katherine. The
interest--nay, the trouble--of the children drew her out of herself, and
dwarfed the past with the more urgent demands of the present. Cliff
Cottage was a pretty, pleasant abode. The living rooms, which were of a
good size, two of them opening with bay-windows on the pleasure-ground
which surrounded the house on three sides, were, with the bedrooms over
them, additions to a very small abode.

These Katherine succeeded in making pretty and comfortable. To wake in
the morning and hear the pleasant murmur of the waves; to open her
window to the soft sweet briny air, and look out on the waters
glittering in the early golden light; to listen to the laughter and
shrill cries of Cis and Charlie chasing each other in the garden, and
feel that they were her charge--all this contributed to restore her to a
healthy state of mind, to strengthen and to cheer her.

Cecil, to his dismay at first, was dispatched every morning to school,
where he soon made friends and began to feel at home. Charlie Katherine
taught herself, as he was still delicate. Then a pony was added to the
establishment, and old Francois, ex-courier and factotum, used to take
the young gentlemen for long excursions each riding turn about on the
quiet, sens