ldish, and I should be
a vain fool if I thought so."

He stood thinking for a few moments, and as he paused there was the
rattle of wheels in the street, and Sam Jenkles drove his hansom to the
door and stopped, gave the horse in charge of a boy, and went in.

The next minute Richard had crossed too, for a plan had been formed on
the instant.

Mrs Jenkles met him at the door, and at his wish led him to where Sam
was seated at a table, hurriedly discussing a hot meal.

"Drops in, sir, if ever I drives a fare in this direction, and the
missus generally has a snack for me. Eh, sir? Oh no, sir. All right,
I'll wait," he said, in answer to a question or two.

And then Richard ascended the stairs, knocked and entered, to find that
mother and daughter had just risen from their needlework, Mrs Lane to
look grave, Netta with a bright look in her eyes, and too vivid a red in
either cheek.

"Ah, you busy people," he said, cheerily, "what an example you do set
me! How's our little friend to-day?"

The bright look of joy in Netta's face faded slightly as she heard their
visitor speak of her as he would of some child, but there was a happy,
contented aspect once more as she placed her hand in his, and felt his
frank pressure.

"Mrs Lane," said Richard, speaking gaily, "I'm like the little boy in
the story--I'm idle, and want some one to come and play with me, but I
hope for better luck than he."

Mother and daughter looked at him wonderingly.

"I've come to tell you," he said, "that the sun shines brightly
overhead; there's a deep blue sky, and silvery clouds floating across
it; and six or seven miles out northward there are sweet-scented wild
flowers, waving green trees, all delicious shade; the music of
song-birds, the hum of insects, and views that will gladden your hearts
after seeing nothing but smoke and chimneypots. I am Nature's
ambassador, and I am here to say `Come.'"

As he spoke the work fell from Netta's hands, her eyes dilated, and a
look of intense glad longing shone from her soft, oval face, while she
hung upon her mother's lips, till, hearing her words, the tears gathered
in her eyes, and she bent her head to conceal them.

Mrs Lane's words were very few; they were grateful, but they told of
work to be done by a certain time, and she said it was impossible.

"But it would do you both good. Miss Netta there wants a change badly,"
said Richard; "and you haven't heard half my plan. Jenkles has his