ng and holding out her hand to her
old lover, with a smile that reminded him of other days--"at last, when
I was growing tired waiting. And this is your little girl--_my_ little
girl from henceforth? Come here, my pet, and kiss your new mamma."

She bent over the little one, kissing the pink cheek and rosy lips.

"She is fair and tiny--a very fairy; but she resembles you,
nevertheless, Captain Everard."

"In temper--yes," said the captain. "You will find her spoiled, and
wilful, cross, and capricious, and no end of trouble. Won't she, May?"

"She will be the better match for Rupert on that account," Lady Thetford
said, smiling, and unfastening little Miss Everard's wraps with her own
fair fingers. "Come here, Rupert, and welcome your new sister."

The young baronet approached, and dutifully kissed little May, who put
up her rosebud mouth right willingly. Sir Rupert Thetford was not tall,
rather undersized, and delicate for his seven years; but he was head and
shoulders over the flaxen-haired fairy, with the bright gray eyes.

"I want a ride on your rocking-horse," cried little May, fraternizing
with him at once; "and oh! what nice picture-books, and what a lot!"

The children ran off together to their distant corner, and Captain
Everard sat down for the first time.

"You have not dined?" said Lady Thetford. "Allow me to--" her hand was
on the bell, but the captain interposed.

"Many thanks--nothing. We dined at the village; and I leave again by the
seven-fifty train. It is past seven now, so I have but little time to
spare. I fear I am putting you to a great deal of trouble; but May's
nurse insists on being taken back to London to-night."

"It will be of no consequence," replied Lady Thetford, "Rupert's nurse
will take charge of her. I intend to advertise for a nursery-governess
in a few days. Rupert's health has always been so extremely delicate,
that he has not even made a pretext of learning yet, and it is quite
time. He grows stronger, I fancy; but Dr. Gale tells me frankly his
constitution is dangerously weak."

She sighed as she spoke, and looked over to where he stood beside little
May who had mounted the rocking-horse boy-fashion. Sir Rupert was
expostulating.

"You oughtn't to sit that way--ask mamma. You ought to sit side-saddle.
Only boys sit like that."

"I don't care!" retorted Miss Everard, rocking more violently than ever.
"I'll sit whatever way I like! Let me alone!"

Lady Thetford looked