ce the day of his conveying her over the ice. So he stood
irresolutely watching, as nail after nail was driven into Fairy's hoof,
casting glances every minute at the window.

"Shall I see what he wants?" asked Margaret, perceiving that lessons
would not go on till Sydney had got out what he wished to say. "May I
open the window for a moment, Maria, to speak to him?"

"What do you think?" cried Sydney, taking instant advantage of the
movement, and carrying off his awkwardness by whipping the window-sill
while he spoke. "What _do_ you think? Mr Enderby is come by the coach
this morning. I saw him myself; and you might have met our Ben carrying
his portmanteau home, from where he was put down, half an hour ago.
We'll have rare sport, if he stays as long as he did last summer. I do
believe," he continued, leaning into the room, and speaking with a touch
of his mother's mystery, "he would have come long since if Mrs Rowland
had not been here. I wish she had taken herself off two months ago, and
then I might have had a run with the harriers with him, as he promised I
should."

"Now you have said just a little too much, Sydney; so you may go," said
Maria. "Shut down the window, will you?"

It was well for Margaret that there was the recess of the window to lean
in. There she stood, not speaking a word. It was not in nature for
Maria to refrain from casting a glance at her,--which glance grew into a
look of intelligence.

"You do not quite wink as mamma does," observed Fanny, "but I know very
well what you mean, Miss Young."

"So people always fancy when they observe upon nothing, or upon what
they know nothing about, Fanny. But I thought you were convinced, some
time ago, that you should not watch people's countenances, to find out
what they are thinking, any more than--"

"I should read a letter they are writing," interrupted Fanny. "Well, I
beg your pardon, Miss Young; but I really thought I saw you looking at
cousin Margaret's face. However, I dare say everybody supposes the
same,--that Mr Enderby would not have been here now if Mrs Rowland had
not gone away. You need not mind Mary and me, Miss Young; you know we
hear all about Mrs Rowland at home."

"I know you are apt to fancy that you understand all about Mrs Rowland,
my dear; but perhaps Mrs Rowland herself might happen to differ from
you, if she could look into your mind. It is for you to settle with
yourself, whether you think she would be sati