ury bells stand
up as they ought in the midst of a large bouquet, in a noble white and
blue Nankin vase, which was meant for the table in the hall.

Mrs. Warrender was very glad to see young Cavendish. She asked at once
if they were going to take him to Hurst Hill and the old castle at
Pierrepoint, and entered almost eagerly into a description of what could
be done for a stranger. "For we have scarcely anything, except the
country itself, to show a stranger," she said. "There is nothing that
is exciting, not much society, and unfortunately, at this moment, the
little that there was----"

"I know," said Dick, "it is my misfortune. I was deeply sorry to
hear----" He had never seen Mr. Warrender, and naturally could have no
profound regret on the subject, but his eyes expressed so much tender
sympathy that her heart was touched, and tears came to her own.

"You are very kind to take a part in our sorrows," she said. "If all had
been well with us, there would have been no one more pleased than he to
make our country pleasant to you. He was always so much interested in
Theo's friends. But even as things are, if you do not find it too sad,
we shall always be glad to see you. Not that we have anything to tempt
you," she added, with a smile.

"Then, Mrs. Warrender," said the rector, "may I tell my wife that you
are not going away?"

Mrs. Warrender cast a wistful look round her,--at her son, at the
remorseless inclosure of those dull walls, which were like those of a
prison. "It appears not, for the present," she said.

"No," said Minnie; "for where can we be so well as at home? For my part,
I don't believe in change. What do you change? Only the things about you.
You can't change yourself nor your circumstances."

"The skies, but not the soul," said Dick.

"That is just what I mean, Mr. Cavendish. I see you understand. Mamma
thinks it would be more cheerful to go away. But we don't really want to
be cheerful. Why should we be cheerful?--at least for six months, or I
should say a year. We can't be supposed to be equal to anything, after
our great loss, in less than a year."

At this they were all silent, a little overawed; and then Mrs. Warrender
returned to her original discourse upon Pierrepoint Castle and the Hurst
at Cleveland: "They are both excellent places for picnics. You should
take Mr. Cavendish there."

"That was all very well," said the rector, "when there was all of you to
fall back upon; but he must be