equally valuable and scarce."

Gathering a choice little bouquet he said "you will not refuse this
Isabel."

"Miss Leicester if you please sir," she replied as she took the flowers,
and hastened to the schoolroom. While Everard stood for a moment lost in
thought, then went to pay his respects to his mother, and present the
rejected flower, to the bride elect.

This was the last evening they would be alone, to-morrow the guests were
to arrive. Isabel did not always join them at dinner, and this evening
she intended to spend in the schoolroom to finish the reports, which Mr.
Arlington always liked to have when the holidays began, giving the
children leave to go in the drawing-room. But the best plans cannot
always be carried out. Isabel received a message from Mrs. Arlington
requesting her to join them at dinner, accompanied by a threat from
Harry, that if she did not they would all adjourn to the schoolroom,
of course she had to comply. However the evening passed off very
pleasantly, Everard was so much occupied with his mother and sisters,
that with the exception of making her sing all his favourite songs, he
paid even less than usual attention to Isabel.

CHAPTER XXII.

The children are on tiptoe of expectation, anxiously waiting the arrival
of the Mornington's, and numerous other guest's. Now the wished for
moment has come, what a delightful stir and confusion it has occasioned.
Rose is in ecstasy, and Amy wild with glee, even the quiet Alice seemed
to have caught the infection. It was to be a regular old fashioned Xmas.
Eve. All sorts of games and odd things, snap dragon, charades (for which
Harry and Lucy were famous) magic music, dancing, and even blindmans
buff was proposed but was over-ruled by the quieter members of the
party. 'Santa Claus' sent a bountiful supply of presents down the
chimney that night, which caused great merriment next day. For ladies
got smoking caps, and cigar-cases; while gentlemen received workboxes,
thimbles, and tatting-needles. Peter got a jester's cap and bells, which
he vowed was a dunce's cap intended for Rose, to that young lady's great
indignation. Tom had a primer, and a present for a good boy, and May
received a plain gold ring at which they all laughed very much, to May's
excessive annoyance. After breakfast they all went to church, and then
all who chose went to see the school children, who were enjoying
themselves immensely over their Xmas. fare. Then the sleighs