morning, and things went all well with her,
she could finish Harriett's bonnet also in time, for really Mrs.
Phillips's new one would make her sister-in-law's look very shabby. It
was the first new bonnet she had been trusted to make since she came;
she had had CARTE BLANCHE for the materials, and had pleased herself
with the style, and Elsie believed it would be her CHEF-D'OEUVRE. The
idea of giving Miss Phillips such an unexpected pleasure made her feel
quite kindly disposed towards her, though the feeling was not
reciprocated, for as Harriett did not know of Elsie's intentions, she
could not be supposed to be grateful for them; but, on the contrary,
she felt a grudge at her for enjoying herself in this way at the
expense of her bonnet. Harriett Phillips played and sang very well; her
father was fond of music, and that taste had been very well cultivated
for her time and opportunities, and she had kept up with all the modern
music very meritoriously. Perhaps it was this, more than anything else,
that had made her Dr. Phillips's favourite daughter, for in all other
things Georgiana was more self-forgetful and more sympathising.
Stanley, too, admired his sister's accomplishment; he had missed the
delightful little family concerts and the glee-singing that he had left
for his bush life, and if it could have been possible for his wife to
acquire music it would certainly have been a boon to him; but as she
had no ear and no taste, even he saw that it was impracticable; but
Emily was to be an accomplished musician. She did not go to bed with
the little ones, but sat up to play her two little airs to her papa's
friends--to teach her confidence, Mrs. Phillips said, but, in reality,
to give her a little spur to application.

"As for Emily needing confidence," whispered Brandon to Alice Melville,
"that is a splendid absurdity. These colonial children do not know what
bashfulness or timidity means--not but what I am very fond of all the
Phillipses, and Emily is my favourite."

"She is mine, too," said Elsie; "she is an affectionate and an original
child, with quick perceptions and quick feelings. I believe she is very
fond of me; I like little people to be fond of me."

"Not big people, too?" said Brandon, with an expression half comic,
half sad.

Elsie blushed. Emily came up to her dear friend, Mr. Brandon, and her
favourite, Alice. "Aunt Harriett is going to play and sing now, and
after that, Alice, you must sing. I like y