urting Miss
Winter's feelings."

"Well, I'll call Ethel, if you like, but I shall go and practise in the
drawing-room. The old school-room piano is fit for nothing but Mary to
hammer upon."

Flora went away, evidently annoyed, and Margaret's conjectures on the
cause of it were cut short by Ethel running in with a slate in one hand
and two books in the other, the rest having all tumbled down on the
stairs.

"Oh, Margaret, I am so glad to come to you. Miss Winter has set Mary to
read 'To be, or not to be,' and it would have driven me distracted
to have stayed there. I have got a most beautiful sum in Compound
Proportion, about a lion, a wolf, and a bear eating up a carcase, and as
soon as they have done it, you shall hear me say my ancient geography,
and then we will do a nice bit of Tasso; and if we have any time after
that, I have got such a thing to tell you--only I must not tell you now,
or I shall go on talking and not finish my lessons."

It was not till all were done, that Ethel felt free to exclaim, "Now
for what I have been longing to tell you--Richard is going to--" But the
fates were unpropitious. Aubrey trotted in, expecting to be amused; next
came Norman, and Ethel gave up in despair; and, after having affronted
Flora in the morning, Margaret was afraid of renewing the offence, by
attempting to secure Ethel as her companion for the afternoon; so not
till after the walk could Margaret contrive to claim the promised,
communication, telling Ethel to come and settle herself cosily by her.

"I should have been very glad of you last evening," said she, "for papa
went to sleep, and my book was out of reach."

"Oh, I am sorry; how I pity you, poor Margaret!"

"I suppose I have grown lazy," said Margaret, "for I don't mind
those things now. I am never sorry for a quiet time to recollect and
consider."

"It must be like the waiting in the dark between the slides of a magic
lantern," said Ethel; "I never like to be quiet. I get so unhappy."

"I am glad of resting and recollecting," said Margaret. "It has all been
so like a dream, that merry morning, and then, slowly waking to find
myself here in dear mamma's place, and papa watching over me. Sometimes
I think I have not half understood what it really is, and that I don't
realise, that if I was up and about, I should find the house without
her."

"Yes; that is the aching part!" said Ethel. "I am happy, sitting on her
bed here with you. You are a little of he