d to save the expense.'

'Would it make much difference?'

'Not more than we could bear now that we are in for it, but I fear it
would excite jealousies.'

'Is that worse than leaving the poor child to Westhaven society all the
holidays?'

'Perhaps not; and Conny is old enough now to be more injured by it than
when she was younger.'

'You know I have always hoped to make her like a child of our own when
her school education is finished.'

Frank smiled, for he was likewise very fond of little Constance.

There was a public distribution of prizes, at which all the grandees of
the neighbourhood were expected to assist, and it was some consolation to
the Northmoors, for the dowager duchess being absent, that the pleasure
of taking the prize from her uncle would be all the greater--if--

The whole party went--Lady Adela, Miss Morton, and all--and were
installed in chairs of state on the platform, with the bright array of
books before them--the head-mistress telling Lady Northmoor beforehand
that her niece would have her full share of honours. No one could be a
better or more diligent girl.

It quite nerved Lord Northmoor when he looked forth upon the sea of
waving tresses of all shades of brown, while his wife watched in
nervousness, both as to how he would acquit himself and how the exertion
would affect him; and Bertha, as usual, was anxious for the credit of the
name.

He did what was needed. Nobody wanted anything but the sensible
commonplace, kindly spoken, about the advantages of good opportunities,
the conscientiousness of doing one's best. And after all, the
inferiority of mere attainments in themselves to the discipline and
dutifulness of responding to training,--it was slowly but not
stammeringly spoken, and Bertha did not feel critical or ashamed, but
squeezed Mary's hand, and said, 'Just the right thing.'

One by one the girls were summoned for their prizes, the little ones
first. Lord Northmoor had not the gift of inventing a pretty speech for
each, he could do no more than smile as he presented the book, and read
its name; but the smile was a very decided one when, in the class next to
the highest, three out of the seven prizes were awarded to Constance
Elizabeth Morton, and it might be a question which had the redder cheeks,
the uncle or the niece, as he handed them to her. It was one of the few
happinesses that he had derived from his brother's family!

After such achievements on Constance