manuscript. You have done all I wished you to do, and I value your
sincerity. Of course I did not expect praise, since the more telling
it is on the opposite side, the less you could like it. I saw you
appreciated it."

And Rachel departed, while Rose crept up to her aunt, asking, "Aunt
Ermine, why do you look so very funny? It was very tiresome. Are not you
glad it is over?"

"I was thinking, Rose, what a difficult language plain English is
sometimes."

"What, Miss Rachel's? I couldn't understand one bit of her long story,
except that she did not like weak tea."

"It was my own that I meant," said Ermine. "But, Rose, always remember
that a person who stands plain speaking from one like me has something
very noble and generous in her. Were you here all the time, Rosie? I
don't wonder you were tired."

"No, Aunt Ermine, I went and told Violetta and Augustus a fairy tale out
of my own head."

"Indeed; and how did they like it?"

"Violetta looked at me all the time, and Augustus gave three winks, so I
think he liked it."

"Appreciated it!" said Aunt Ermine.

CHAPTER IV. THE HERO.

"And which is Lucy's? Can it be
That puny fop, armed cap-a-pie,
Who loves in the saloon to show
The arms that never knew a foe."--SCOTT.

"My lady's compliments, ma'am, and she would he much obliged if you
would remain till she comes home," was Coombe's reception of Alison.
"She is gone to Avoncester with Master Temple and Master Francis."

"Gone to Avoncester!" exclaimed Rachel, who had walked from church to
Myrtlewood with Alison.

"Mamma is gone to meet the Major!" cried three of the lesser boys,
rushing upon them in full cry; then Leoline, facing round, "Not the
major, he is lieutenant-colonel now--Colonel Keith, hurrah!"

"What--what do you mean? Speak rationally, Leoline, if you can."

"My lady sent a note to the Homestead this morning," explained Coombe.
"She heard this morning that Colonel Keith intended to arrive to-day,
and took the young gentlemen with her to meet him."

Rachel could hardly refrain from manifesting her displeasure, and
bluntly asked what time Lady Temple was likely to be at home.

"It depended," Coombe said, "upon the train; it was not certain whether
Colonel Keith would come by the twelve or the two o'clock train."

And Rachel was going to turn sharply round, and dash home with the
tidings, when Alison arrested her with the question--

"And who is Colonel Keith?"

Rachel