e a real
surprise. I love surprises!'

Jack called her a 'contrairy' young lady, who wanted to know every thing
one moment and nothing the next. Mrs. Wright, in a wonderful black
bonnet, appeared at that instant, her arms full of warm things. Estelle
sprang to her feet in delight, scarcely able to stand still a second to
have her hat put on, and the big cloak wrapped round her slender little
figure.

'Gently, gently, dear,' said Mrs. Wright, as the child bounded towards
the door the moment she was released.

Jack laughed. 'That will never do,' he said; 'you must walk before you
can run, Missie.'

As long as she went out, she did not care about the manner of her going,
and willingly allowed Jack to lift her in his strong arms. Mrs. Wright
opened the door at the end of the kitchen, and Estelle found herself on
a terrace, where some high shrubs hid the view beyond, and a few flowers
had been planted wherever there was soil enough for them. A steep path
led down the cliff till they came to a wider place, whence there were
two routes--one which Jack pursued, narrow and rough; the other, broader
and paved here and there with cobble stones, in order to keep the earth
from being washed down the hill.

'That's the way to Tout-Petit, our little fishing village,' said Jack.
'You may walk miles before you will see anything half so pretty. But oh,
the dirt!'

'Everything is thrown out into the middle of the street,' added Mrs.
Wright, making a face as if the remembrance of certain sights was not
pleasant. 'It takes a good heavy rain to wash them places clean. Oh!' as
a stone rolled under her feet. 'I do believe, Jack, this path gets worse
and worse.'

'I wish I could carry _you_, dear Goody!' said Estelle, smiling at her
over Jack's shoulder, and brimming over with a happiness which made her
long to impart some of it to others.

'Or that I could carry you both at once,' laughed Jack. 'Mother is an
independent body, Missie, and many's the time I'm obliged to take the
law into my own hands, when it's a matter of helping her for her good.
She does not like to be done good to against her will.'

'And Jack takes after his mother if that's her character,' retorted Mrs.
Wright, laughing.

'Then you would not wish him to be different,' said Estelle, with a look
of affection at Mrs. Wright.

'Yes, she would!' exclaimed Jack. 'I've got some ugly faults, and she'd
rather see me without them: wouldn't you, Mother?'

'Have you f