iest creature
in the world, and had been so all her life. Moreover, from this blithe
laugh, as well as from her happy face, you might have taken her for a
young maiden of nineteen, instead of a woman of six-and-twenty, which
she really was. But with some, after youth's first sufferings are
passed, life's dial seems to run backward.

"My child, how very merry you are, you and Miss Vanbrugh!" said Mrs.
Rothesay, from her corner.

"Well, mamma, and how can we help it,--talking of my 'Charity,' and the
lady who bought it. Would you believe, darling, she told Miss Vanbrugh
that she did so because the background was like a view in their
park, and the two little children resembled the two young Masters
Fludyer--fortunate likeness for me!"

"Ay," said Miss Meliora, "only my brother would say you were very wrong
to sell your picture to such stupid people, who know nothing about Art."

"Perhaps I was; but," she added whisperingly, "you know I have not
sold my Academy picture yet, and mamma _must_ go into the country this
autumn."

"Mrs. Fludyer is a very nice chatty woman," observed the mother; "and
she talked of her beautiful country-seat at Farnwood Hall. I think it
would do me good to go there, Olive."

"Well, you know she asked you, dear mamma."

"Yes; but only for courtesy. She would scarcely be troubled with a guest
so helpless as I," said Mrs. Rothesay, half sighing.

In a moment Olive was by her side, talking away, at first softly, and
then luring her on to smiles with a merry tale,--how Mr. Fludyer, when
the picture came home, wanted to have the three elder Fludyers painted
in a row behind "Charity," that thus the allegorical picture might make
a complete family group. "He also sent to know if I couldn't paint his
horse 'Beauty,' and one or two greyhounds also, in the same picture.
What a comical idea of Art this country squire must have!"

"My dear, every one is not so clever as you," said the mother. "I like
Mrs. Fludyer very much, because, whenever she came to Woodford Cottage
about the picture, she used to talk to me so kindly."

"And she has asked after you in all her letters since she went home. So
she must be a good creature: and I, too, will like her very much indeed,
because she likes my sweet mamma."

The determination was soon called into exercise; for the next half-hour,
to the surprise of all parties, Mrs. Fludyer appeared.

She assigned no reason for her visit, except that being again in
town