to her with outstretched hand.

'And you are going away!' he said.

'I hope to get leave to stay a few days after mother,' she said.

'To prolong the torment?' he said.

'To wish everybody good-bye. It is a great piece of my life that is
come to an end, and I can't bear to break it off so short.'

'And if you feel so, who are going to wealth and pleasure, what must it
be to those who are left behind?'

'Oh!' said Nuttie, 'some one will be raised up. That's what they
always say.'

'I shall go into a brotherhood,' observed Gerard desperately.

'Oh, don't,' began Nuttie, much gratified, but at that moment Miss
Nugent came out at her door, and Mr. Spyers, who was some way in
advance, looked round and waited for them to come up. He held out his
hands to her and said, 'Well, Nuttie, my child, you are going to begin
a new life.'

'Oh dear! I wish I could have both!' cried Nuttie, not very relevantly
as far as the words went.

'Scheiden und weiden thut weh!' quoted Mary.

'If his place was only Monks Horton. What will Aunt Ursel do?'

'I think perhaps she may be induced to join us,' said Mary. 'We mean
to do our best to persuade her.'

'And there's the choir! And my class, and the harmonium,' went on
Nuttie, while Gerard walked on disconsolately.

'Micklethwayte has existed without you, Nuttie,' said Mr. Spyers,
taking her on with him alone. 'Perhaps it will be able to do so again.
My dear, you had better look on. There will be plenty for you to learn
and to do where you are going, and you will be sure to find much to
enjoy, and also something to bear. I should like to remind you that
the best means of going on well in this new world will be to keep self
down and to have the strong desire that only love can give to be
submissive, and to do what is right both to God and your father and
mother. May I give you a text to take with you? "Children, obey your
parents in the Lord, for this is right."'

They were at the door and there was no time for an answer, but Nuttie,
as she took her place, was partly touched and partly fretted at the
admonition.

The question as to her remaining a day or two after her mother was soon
disposed of. Mrs. Egremont sent a pretty little note to make the
request, but the elegant valet who appeared at ten o'clock brought a
verbal message that his master wished Mrs. and Miss Egremont to be
ready by two o'clock to join him in calling on Lady Kirkaldy at Monks
Horton, and th