displeasure against the delinquent. If even a member of their own family, he or she met with no milder treatment, for the offence must be of a direful character to oblige their benevolent benefactress to resort to so extreme a measure as the prohibiting their presence at an entertainment expressly provided for the gratification and moral benefit of her "poor friends," as she called them. Happily, however, such cloudings of the brightness of the festive day were of rare occurrence, and this preparationmorning seemed to me to open up more propitiously than had any of its predecessors.

Early on that day, I and a bevy of girl and boy acquaintances, who had gathered at the Court to assist me in my pleasant labour, sallied forth for the purpose. At first our spirits ran too high and wild to allow of much practical use resulting from our presence; but after a good deal of planning and suggesting, of attempts at arranging according to our own thoughtless ideas, and re-arranging according to the preceding ideas of others doing considerably more harm than good in either case— scampering about the grounds, and in and out the house, laughing and talking, like a set of

mad things, and utterly discomfiting, not to say bewildering, the dignified Jeffry and dear old Tursey, we subsided into "a body of sensible operatives," as Harry Dormer said, and commenced work in earnest. This still proceeded, in a sort of whirlwind fashion, however, one and all being equally liberal in directions and advice; half the party generally adopting a totally different view of every matter to that taken by the other half, and striving amidst peals of noisy mirth to explain and enforce the opposition opinion. As may be supposed, much valuable time was thus lost, which had afterwards to be compensated for by greater and longer exertions.

And no light or trifling affair was this same labour of the day, despite the piece of mere fun and frolic our youthful spirits made of it. An orchard adjoining the pleasure-grounds, and which was during the first hours to be exclusively devoted to the women, the girls, and the babies, and later to both sexes, when the abundantly provided tea was laid out, was always decorated with flowers, arranged in every position and style. Festoons swept gaily and gracefully from tree to tree, and on

every available point were suspended, or wreathed, garlands and bouquets. This department of the preparations devolved almost entirely upon me and my little band of assistants, and a very arduous undertaking it was, but yet a sweet and pleasant one, thus lightened by such cheerful companionship.

As so exorbitant a floral requirement could not have been met without contributions from all the flower-gardens in Riversdale, and scarcely then, a heavy toll had to be levied on the neighbouring fields, meadows, woods, and hedgerows. Off we set, therefore, our party now further increased by the addition of Sariann and Charles Beechley, Captain Bell, and two country gentlemen-Mr. Burton, a man of large property, and a Mr. John Carsden the four latter constituting themselves basket-carriers to the ladies. young collegians and two or three school-boys, at home for their holidays, completed our knightly attendants; one of the former being Harry Dormer, Monica's brother. The gentlemen-Burton and Carsden-were cousins, the first engaged to be married to Miss Dormer

Three

a tall, handsome blonde-a singular contrast to her sister Monica in personal appearance.

Monica Dormer and I had for years been intimate friends, for, although three years my senior, her pretty figure, vivacious expression, and sprightly manners gave her the semblance of being even younger than myself. I was very partial to her society, but my inclination towards a warmer intercourse was always suppressed by the disapproval of Miss Pitt, and Sariann, with whom she was not a favourite. Both regarded her as of too light and frivolous a character to be a desirable companion for me. My governess, indeed, went further, declaring she was artificial and vain. I could not think her so myself, and believed my two friends had partly allowed their better judgment to be warped by over-anxiety on my

account.

About noon we went to the house to rest and refresh ourselves. Good old Patterson had quite distinguished herself in the capital luncheon provided for the occasion, and which we attacked with a proud feeling of satisfaction that our right to it had been fairly won to-day,

if it ever had in our lives. Grandmamma, beaming with sympathy and hospitality, presided at the head of the table; and Jeffry, looking down on the surrounding flock of merry, flushed young faces with the benevolent approval of the privileged old retainer and friend he was, lingered for a while amiably dispensing the numerous dainties.

Johnny seemed endued with ubiquity. His active little figure was apparently present on every side of the table at once, despite his portly master's often angrily whispered "Don't be too boostling, Johnny; don't be too boostling."

But the picnic experience had, unfortunately for the success of Jeffry's lessons, impressed Johnny with the mutinous conviction that to win the approbation of at least the young portion of the company was more likely of attainment by the practice of a good-humoured alacrity than if, in imitation of his master, he cumbered his movements with stateliness and deliberation.

On one point, however, to Monica's and my great amusement, he took it into his head to imitate the latter. Quite overlooking the fact