to go to the beach, Dolly had never been able to
spare the time, and as for trusting Mary, the younger servant, to take
me, that was quite out of the question.

"'I wonder if you could walk to Mrs. Berkley's,' said Uncle John. 'If
so, we could go by the field-path, and so have a fine view of the sea.
Do you think she could manage it, Dolly?'

"'Oh yes, sir,' said Dolly, catching a glimpse of my delighted
expression. 'Miss Lily has been wishing to take that walk ever since she
came; for she has never seen the sea, she tells me.'

"'Has never seen the sea!' said Uncle John, smiling, 'then there is a
great treat in store for you; so come away, my child, and we shall have
a quiet half-hour before going to Mrs. Berkley's.'

"I don't think I shall ever forget that walk with Uncle John. Seeing
that I was interested in the birds and the butterflies, he told me all
sorts of stories about them--how the former built their nests, and how
the latter was first a caterpillar before changing into a bright
butterfly. Then he pointed out many curious things about the flowers I
plucked on the way. He seemed to my mind to know about everything; and,
in consequence, my respect increased for him more and more, and I
somehow became a little afraid of him.

"But when, from the top of the hill, we caught the first glimpse of the
blue sea lying below, with the fishing-boats in the distance, I quite
forgot I was beginning to be shy of Uncle John, and screamed aloud,
clapping my hands delightedly. He was so good to me, too. Fearing that
in my rapture I might lose my footing and slip down the face of the
rocks, Uncle John took me by the hand, and holding me fast, let me gaze
upon the scene without interruption.

[Illustration: THE FIRST WALK BY THE SEA-SIDE.]

"'Now we must go, dear,' said Uncle John. 'Strange, that of all the
works of creation none make such a wonderful impression as the first
sight one gets of the sea.'

"'Do you ever walk this way, uncle?' I inquired, as we turned into
another path that led to Mrs. Berkley's mansion.

"'Sometimes; indeed, it is a favourite walk of mine,' he replied. 'I
like to come and sit just at that point where you stood. Your aunt used
to be very fond of that walk also.'

"'It will be such a nice place to see her in the clouds,' I said, but a
little timidly, for this was the first time he had ever mentioned her
name, and he had sighed heavily when he did so.

"'Why, what do you mean, Lily?' he a