and her governess also, long wintry walks across the country, "in order
to study the cryptogamia."

Guy vouchsafed no answer to his brother; he was too much absorbed in
turning over the pages of the beautiful Flora on his knee.

"What do you say, all of you? Father, don't you think she would like
it? Then, suppose you give it to her?"

At this inopportune moment Miss Silver returned.

She might have been aware that she was under discussion--at least so
much of discussion as was implied by Guy's eager words and his mother's
silence, for she looked around her uneasily, and was about to retire.

"Do not go," Guy exclaimed, anxiously.

"Pray do not," his mother added; "we were just talking about you, Miss
Silver. My son hopes you will accept this book from him, and from us
all, with all kind birthday wishes."

And rising, with a little more gravity than was her wont, Mrs. Halifax
touched the girl's forehead with her lips, and gave her the present.

Miss Silver coloured, and drew back. "You are very good, but indeed I
would much rather not have it."

"Why so? Do you dislike gifts, or this gift in particular?"

"Oh, no; certainly not."

"Then," said John, as he too came forward and shook hands with her with
an air of hearty kindness, "pray take the book. Do let us show how
much we respect you; how entirely we regard you as one of the family."

Guy turned a look of grateful pleasure to his father; but Miss Silver,
colouring more than ever, still held back.

"No, I cannot; indeed I cannot."

"Why can you not?"

"For several reasons."

"Give me only one of them--as much as can be expected from a young
lady," said Mr. Halifax, good-humouredly.

"Mr. Guy ordered the Flora for himself. I must not allow him to
renounce his pleasure for me."

"It would not be renouncing it if YOU had it," returned the lad, in a
low tone, at which once more his younger brother looked up, angrily.

"What folly about nothing! how can one read with such a clatter going
on?"

"You old book-worm! you care for nothing and nobody but yourself," Guy
answered, laughing. But Edwin, really incensed, rose and settled
himself in the far corner of the room.

"Edwin is right," said the father, in a tone which indicated his
determination to end the discussion, a tone which even Miss Silver
obeyed. "My dear young lady, I hope you will like your book; Guy,
write her name in it at once."

Guy willingly obeyed, but was a good while