rie of which Sylvia was languidly thinking; her
surroundings shone with strong color, and beyond them a peaceful
English landscape stretched away. She could look out upon
heavily-massed trees, yellow fields with sheaves in them, and the
winding streak of a flashing river.

Yet Sylvia was far from satisfied. The valley was getting dull; she
needed distraction, and her letters suggested both the means of getting
it and a difficulty. She wore black, but it had an artistic, almost
coquettish, effect, and the big hat became her well, in spite of its
simple trimming. Sylvia bestowed a good deal of thought upon her
appearance.

After a while Mrs. Lansing came out and joined her.

"Is there any news in your letters?" she asked.

"Yes," answered Sylvia; "there's one from George--it's a little
disappointing, but you can read it. As usual, he's laconic."

George's curtness was accounted for by the fact that he had been afraid
of saying too much, but Sylvia carelessly handed the letter to her
companion.

"After all, he shows a nice feeling," Mrs. Lansing remarked. "He seems
to regret very much his inability to send you a larger check."

"So do I," said Sylvia with a petulant air.

"He points out that it has been a bad season and he has lost his crop."

"Bad seasons are common in western Canada; I've met farmers who seemed
to thrive on them."

"No doubt they didn't do so all at once."

"I dare say that's true," Sylvia agreed. "It's very likely that if I
give him plenty of time, George will get everything right--he's one of
the plodding, persistent people who generally succeed in the end--but
what use will there be in that? I'm not growing younger--I want some
enjoyment now!" She spread out her hands with a gesture that appealed
for sympathy. "One gets so tired of petty economy and self-denial."

"But George and Herbert arranged that you should have a sufficient
allowance."

"Sufficient," said Sylvia, "is a purely relative term. So much depends
upon one's temperament, doesn't it? Perhaps I am a little extravagant,
and that's why I'm disappointed."

"After all, you have very few necessary expenses."

Sylvia laughed.

"It's having only the necessary ones that makes it so dull. Now, I've
thought of going to stay a while with Susan Kettering; there's a letter
from her, asking when I'll come."

Mrs. Lansing was a lady of strict conventional views, and she showed
some disapproval.

"But you can hardly m