rass in the sunshine, playing
with the children, and fast making friends with the younger aunts, who
heartily relished his fun, though they were a good deal afraid of him;
while Violet sat under the verandah, feasting her eyes upon Helvellyn,
and enjoying the talk with her sisters as much as she could, while
uneasy at the lengthened housekeeping labours that her mother was
undergoing. They were to retrace one of their memorable walks by the
river-side in the afternoon, but were prevented by the visit expected
all the morning, but deferred to that fashionable hour, of Mrs. Albert
Moss, who sailed in, resolved that the Honourable Mrs. Martindale should
find one real companion in the family.

Those fluttering silks and fringes seemed somewhat to stand on end at
finding themselves presented to a slight, simply dressed figure in a
plain straw bonnet; and the bare-legged, broad-sashed splendours of Miss
Albertine Louisa stood aghast at the brown holland gardening suits of
the London cousins.

'In training for the Highlanders?' was Arthur's mischievous aside to
Octavia, setting her off into the silent frightened laugh that was his
special diversion; and he continued, as they stood half in and half out
of the window, 'There's Helen patronizing her! I hope she will take her
down to the sand-heap, where the children have been luxuriating all the
morning.'

'Oh! how can you--'

'It is my father's great principle of education,' said Arthur, solemnly,
'to let them grope in the dirt. I never rested till I had seen my boy
up to the ears in mud.--But ha! what a magnificent horse! Why,' as he
started forward to look at it, 'I declare it is stopping here!'

'Olivia and Mr. Hunt in the gig!' cried Octavia. Oh, she has the baby in
her lap!'

Matilda and Mrs. Albert Moss looked at each other, shocked.

'What will Mr. Hunt make her do next?'

'Poor Olivia!' said Mrs. Albert. 'We regret the connection; but Mr. Hunt
will have his own way. You must excuse--'

It was lost. Seeing the new-comers in difficulties between baby, horse,
and gate, Arthur had sped out to open the last for them; and Violet had
sprung after him, and received the child in her arms while her sister
alighted. Here was the mesalliance of the family, too wealthy to have
been rejected, but openly disdained by Matilda, while the gentle Mrs.
Moss and Annette hardly ventured to say a good word for him. Violet's
apprehensions had chiefly centred on him, lest his want of