rah's dignity gave way to
giggles of uncontrollable amusement.

The Squire made his appearance at the luncheon table, an irascible-
looking old gentleman, with red, weather-beaten face, grey hair, and
fierce white whiskers sticking out on either side. The ribbons on his
wife's cap trembled every time he spoke to her, and she said, "Yes,
love, yes!" and "No, love, no!" to everything he said, as if afraid to
differ from him on any subject. Norah jumped on her seat the first time
he spoke to her, for his voice sounded so loud and angry. He said, "I
am afraid you have had a cold drive," in much the same tone as that in
which the villain on the stage would cry--"Base villain, die a thousand
deaths!" and when he called for mustard, the very rafters seemed to
ring. "What on earth must he be like when he is really angry, if he is
like this when he is pleased?" asked Norah of herself; but there was
something in the Squire's keen, blue eyes which took her fancy, despite
his fierceness, and she noticed that when he spoke to his little
daughter his face softened, while each time that she coughed, he knitted
his brows and stared at her with undisguised anxiety. Edna was
evidently his darling, and her delicate health the cause of much
anxiety.

At two o'clock the two girls ensconced themselves behind the window
curtains and exchanged confidences while watching for the first
appearance of the Professor from Lancaster. Edna told Norah about the
school which she left; how grieved she had been to say good-bye to her
friends, and how sadly she missed their bright society, and Norah
comforted her in warm-hearted fashion. "Never mind, I am coming every
fortnight, and when the bright days are here you will be able to drive
over and see us. I hope you will like me, for I think I shall like you
very much indeed, in spite of your eyes." Then they pinched each other,
and crouched together with "Oh's!" and "Ah's!" of excitement, as a
small, wiry figure came hurrying towards the house. It was Mr Morris,
of course, but the collar of his coat was turned up and his hat pulled
over his face, so that it was impossible to tell what he was really
like. Only one thing was certain--he had neither a white nor a black
beard, as Mr Rex had predicted.

"Let me have the first lesson! He won't think I am so bad if he hears
me first," pleaded Edna; and at the end of an hour she came out of the
drawing-room, to announce that Mr Morris was rather ter