o the loving and wise instructions of Miss
Huntingdon; for their mother professed that she had not yet recovered
health and energy sufficient to enable her to look after them herself.
Amos saw this with regret, and wished that his sister could take a right
view of her duty in the matter. At the same time he felt sure that the
day had not yet come for making any attempt to bring his mother home
again. He must defer this his cherished hope and purpose till his
sister should have come to a different and better mind. For as she
recovered herself, which she soon did, from the effects of her late life
of trial and privation, Julia Vivian gave herself up almost entirely to
reading amusing books, fishing, riding, and making one in any little
party of pleasure which could be got up for her. She saw her children
just for a few minutes night and morning, but evidently felt it rather a
distasteful toil than a pleasure if anything obliged her now and then to
give them a little extra attention. Indeed, she seemed to have got the
idea firmly fixed in her mind that she was now to get all the enjoyment
she could to make up for past years of trouble, and that the main
business of her two brothers was to provide for her comfort and
entertainment. And very charming she could make herself when her own
tastes and whims were gratified, but anything like thwarting or
opposition produced in her at once gloom and irritation. For her
father's sake and the credit of the family she abstained from showing
herself at large parties and entertainments where many of the guests
would know a good deal about her past history; but whenever she could
join in a bit of excitement without bringing herself into notice, she
was wild to avail herself of the opportunity, and would not let children
or home be any hindrance if she could possibly help it.

Summer had arrived, when one morning the post brought Mr Huntingdon a
huge bill printed in letters of various shapes, colours, and sizes, from
which it appeared that "the wonderful acrobat, Signor Giovani Telitetti,
of world-wide celebrity, would exhibit some marvellous feats, to
conclude with a dance on the high rope." The entertainment was to be
given in a park situate in the next county, about ten miles distant from
Flixworth Manor.

"There," said the squire, tossing the bill from him, so that it floated
on to the loaf and settled there, "I suppose we shall none of us think
it worth while to ride or driv