oo early."

"Oh no, my dear; it was very good and kind, and I am only grieved
that you had so long to wait; but we will make the most of each
other now. You will stay to luncheon?"

"Thank you, indeed I am afraid I must not: papa would not like it,
for no one knows where I am."

"You have taken this long walk in the heat, and are going back! I
don't like it, my dear; you look fagged. London has not agreed with
you."

Mrs. Poynsett rang her little hand-bell, and ordered in biscuits and
wine, and would have ordered the carriage but for Lenore's urgent
entreaties to the contrary, amounting to an admission that she
wished her visit to be unnoticed at home. This was hardly settled
before there was a knock at the door, announcing baby's daily visit;
and Miss Julia was exhibited by her grandmamma with great
satisfaction until another interruption came, in a call from the
doctor, who only looked in occasionally, and had fallen on this
unfortunate morning.

"Most unlucky," said Mrs. Poynsett. "I am afraid you will doubt
about coming again, and I have not had one word about our Frankie."

"He is very well. I saw him at a party the night before we left
town. Good-bye, dear Mrs. Poynsett."

"You will come again?"

"If I can; but the house is to be full of visitors. If I don't, you
will know it is because I can't."

"I shall be thankful for whatever you can give me. I wish I could
save you that hot walk in the sun."

But as Mrs. Poynsett was wheeled into her own room some compensation
befell Eleonora, for she met Julius in the hall, and he offered to
drive her to the gates of Sirenwood in what he called 'our new
plaything, the pony carriage,' on his way to a clerical meeting.

"You are still here?" she said.

"Till Tuesday, when we go to the Rectory to receive the two De
Lancey boys for the holidays."

"How Mrs. Poynsett will miss you."

"Anne is a very efficient companion," said Julius, speaking to her
like one of the family; "the pity is that she will be so entirely
lost to us when Miles claims her."

"Then they still mean to settle in Africa?"

"Her heart has always been there, and her father is in treaty for a
farm for him, so I fear there is little hope of keeping them. I
can't think what the parish will do without her. By the bye, how
does Joe Reynolds get on with his drawings?"

"I must show them to you. He is really very clever. We sent him to
the School of Art twice a week, and he has g