fringed parasol.

She came home tired out, and thankful that her father went to rest in
his own room. She climbed to the nursery, thinking to share Alwyn's
tea and comfort him, but she found only nurse there. Nurse had a bad
foot, and dreaded hot pavement, so she had sent Master Alwyn out with
her subordinate, a country girl, to play in Mr. Dutton's garden till it
should be cool enough to go and make his purchase, and a message had
since arrived that he was going to drink tea there, and Mr. Dutton
would take him out.

His sister envied him the green shades, and had just done her best to
cool the back drawing-room and rest herself with a book, when Mr. Fane
was announced. He talked pleasantly enough, and lingered and lingered,
no doubt intending to be asked to dinner, but she was equally
determined to do no such thing. She had heard enough of races for one
day, she thought, and at last he took his leave, only just before she
dressed for dinner.

'I thought Fane was here,' said Mr. Egremont as he came in; no doubt
told by Gregorio.

'He has been, but he is gone.'

'You didn't ask him to stay and dine?'

'I did not know you wished it.'

'You might have known that I should have liked to see him. I suppose
you think your sweet self society enough for any man?'

'I am sorry--'

'I'm sick of hearing you are sorry! I believe there's nothing you like
so well as doing an ungracious thing to a friend of mine.'

Nuttie had learnt to hold her tongue on such occasions.

Dinner was nearly over, and her father had been grumbling again at
having no one to take a hand at cards with him, when the door opened a
little way, and Alwyn's pretty glowing face looked in. He was come to
say good-night rather later than usual, and he ran up to his sister
with a little bouquet of yellow banksia and forget-me-nots. 'Mithter
Button'--so Alwyn called him--'sent you this. He said you would like
it, 'cause it came from one that grew at Mittletwait. And oh, look,
look!'

He was hugging a little ship, which he proudly exhibited, while his
father's brow had darkened at the message. 'Did you buy that?' asked
his sister.

'Yes, Mr. Button went with me, and we sailed it. We sailed it by the
fountain in Mr. Button's garden, And we made a storm!'

He danced about with glee, and Mr. Egremont observed, 'A dear purchase
for ten shillings. Did it cost all that, Wyn?'

'They gived me a big silver half-crown, and I gived that to a lit