a
drive or a canter on horseback to different points of interest in that
picturesque section, which everybody appeared to enjoy as well as if
all nature had been at the height of its glory in midsummer.

Mona, of course, was never invited to join these excursions; she was
regarded as nothing but a seamstress or a maid, and most of the company
would have scorned the idea of thus associating with her upon equal
terms.

Her heart often swelled with bitter pain as she watched a gay cavalcade
ride away through the park, for she dearly loved horseback riding, and
she well knew that six months previous she would have been most cordially
welcomed by every member of that merry company.

She wondered what had become of her pretty saddle-horse, Jet, and her
uncle's proud steed, Banquo, and sighed regretfully as she reviewed the
happy past, when they four--for the horses had seemed almost human--had
roamed over the country together. She sometimes even longed to be back in
New York among her piles of sewing, for she had not enough to do now to
occupy her time, and it often hung heavily on her hands, thus allowing
painful memories to depress her.

The third morning after their arrival, just as a gay party was on the
point of starting off, Mona, being at liberty, thought she would slip
down to the library and try to find an entertaining book to pass away the
long hours before lunch.

She was half-way down stairs, when Kitty McKenzie came running
breathlessly back, looking flushed and exceedingly disappointed over
something.

"Oh, dear!" she cried, as she was passing Mona; "I tripped in my
riding-habit, and have ripped the facing so badly that I must change
it and go in the carriage with mamma. It is too bad, for I had the
loveliest pony to ride."

"Have you ripped it too badly to have it repaired?" Mona asked, sorry to
have the gay girl deprived of her coveted pleasure.

"Yes, for it takes me forever to mend anything. I am a wretched bungler
with my needle," she confessed, with engaging frankness, but with a
conscious blush.

"Let me see it," and Mona stooped to examine the rip. "This is not so
bad, after all," she continued, cheerfully. "Just come to my room, and I
will catch it up for you; I can do it in less time than it would take to
change your dress."

"_Can_ you? Oh, that will be so good of you!" and, delighted that she was
not to be deprived of her ride, Miss Kitty followed Mona, with a bright
face and an eager