he little girls, while she sealed her note, how
their patchwork was getting on--thus far the handsomest patchwork quilt
she had ever seen.

"Oh, it will be far handsomer before it is done. Mrs Howell has found
up some beautiful pieces of print for us--remnants of her first
morning-gown after she was married, and of her poor dear Howell's last
dressing-gown, as she says. We were quite sorry to take those; but she
would put them up for us; and she is to see the quilt sometimes in
return."

"But Miss Nares's parcel was the best, cousin Margaret. Such a quantity
of nankeen for the ground, and the loveliest chintz for the centre
medallion! Is not it, Mary?"

"Oh, lovely! Do you know, cousin Margaret, Miss Nares and Miss Flint
both cried when they heard how nearly you were drowned! I am sure, I
had no idea they would have cared so much."

"Nor I, my dear. But I dare say they feel kindly towards anyone saved
from great danger."

"Not everybody," said Fanny; "only you, because you are a great
favourite. Everybody says you are a great favourite. Papa cried last
night--just a little tear or two, as gentlemen do--when he told mamma
how sorry everybody in Deerbrook would have been if you had died."

"There! that will do," said Hester, struggling between her better and
worse feelings--her remorse of this morning, and her present jealousy--
and losing her temper between the two. "You have said quite enough
about what you do not understand, my dears. I cannot have you make so
free with your cousin's name, children."

The little girls looked at each other in wonder; and Hester thought she
detected a lurking smile.

"I see what you are thinking, children. Yes, look, the rain is nearly
over; and then you may go and tell Mrs Howell and Miss Nares, and all
the people you see on your way home, that they had better attend to
their own concerns than pretend to understand what would have been felt
if your cousin had been drowned. I wonder at their impertinence."

"Are you in earnest, cousin Hester? Shall we go and tell them so?"

"No; she is not in earnest," said Margaret. "But before you go, Morris
shall give you some pieces for your quilt--some very pretty ones, such
as she knows I can spare."

Margaret rang, and Morris took the children up-stairs, to choose for
themselves out of Margaret's drawer of pieces. When the door had closed
behind them, Margaret said--"Sister, do not make me wish that I had died
under t