CHAPTER XI.CONCLUSION.Lena's fears that she too was going to have the fever proved only too true, for by the next day she was really ill.All she had gone through for the last few weeks—the fear of discovery, and misery of concealment, joined with the knowledge of how wrongly she was behaving—had tried the child. Though, alas! she had been, as all children are, naughty over and over again, she had never before concealed a fault and continued to do so, as she had now done week after week; and the continual struggle that had gone on in her mind between truth and right, and the pride and jealousy for love, that were such strong features of her character, had told upon body as well as mind, and made her fall an easy prey to the low fever that had broken out in the village and neighbourhood of Sidcombe; and for the next few days she had but a very dim and hazy idea of what was going on around her.Fortunately the attack was in a mild form, and the weather was much cooler than it had been before the fever broke out, heavy rain having fallen, which cooled the air and revived the sick and drooping, and the doctor was soon able to pronounce his little patient on the high road to recovery.When Lena first began to take notice of who was beside her, she expressed no astonishment at seeing her mother's face bending over her and hearing her whisper a few loving words in answer to her. "What is the matter, Mama?""You have been ill, dear, but, please God, you will soon be well again."Lena was quite satisfied, and asked no more questions—it only seemed natural to have Papa and Mama beside her; but gradually the recollections of the day before she was taken ill came back to her, and she remembered that it was Gertrude and Miss Gifford who had been with her then. The latter was still constantly beside her, but it was Gertrude she wanted to see and speak to, as she remembered everything clearly. Had she told Miss Gifford? She wondered if she had; she certainly was not angry, for she could not have been kinder to any one than she was to Lena."Mama, where is Gertrude?" she asked."Gone home, dear, for we were afraid of her being taken ill also if she remained."After a few minutes' silence Lena murmured, "My letter; I never wrote it.""My darling," whispered Mrs. Graham, leaning over her child and placing her hand lovingly on her forehead, "There is no need to write—Gertrude has told me all.""O Mama, and are you angry? Do you still love me, when I am so wicked?""Still love you, my little one! You cannot doubt that we all forgive you fully and freely. O my child, never fear to tell us everything and anything you do or think."Lena's arms were round her mother's neck in a moment, and she said, as she clung fondly to her, "No, Mama, I never, never will. It was not you I was afraid of, but Papa. I thought he would be so angry."Lena did not think Papa stern, or one likely to cause any one fear, when later that day he spoke a few loving words to his child; and as she kissed him, she felt that never again would she think him stern. Her only wonder was how she could ever have feared him, or doubted the love of either of them ceasing because she had done wrong.As Lena lay still that evening, her hand clasped in Mama's, and her eyes fixed upon Papa, who was reading out her letters from Milly and Gertrude, Lena felt so happy and contented. There was no longer any fear in her heart, for there was nothing to be hidden, and the child's heart swelled with gratitude as she thought how good every one had been and now were to her.When the letters were finished, Lena asked suddenly, "How is little Mary; is she better?"A moment's silence followed, and then Mama said, "Little Mary has gone to that home where she will never have pain or suffering more, my Lena; she is with her Saviour now, dear.""Dead, Mama—dead! and she was only twelve years old, just my age. Her poor mother"——And her eyes filled with tears as she added, "And David, how sorry he must be, he was so fond of her!""Yes, dear, we must pity them, but not little Mary herself; she is happy, perfectly happy now.""O Mama, I am so glad I did not die too, for I was not good like her, and I hadn't told you and Papa. I meant to that very night, but Miss Gifford would not let me write.""God has been very good to us all, as He always is, Lena, and has spared my little girl to us, and given her another opportunity of living and working for Him.""Indeed, indeed I will try.""Now, dear, you must not talk any more or get excited. We feared to tell you about little Mary, in case it should upset you while you were so weak, but Papa and I decided that if you asked we would tell you the truth; for we have all decided, have we not, that we are to have no concealments or deceptions any more,—have we not?" she repeated."No, I never will; I mean," she added humbly, "I will try not to."After that day Lena grew rapidly better, and was soon able to be taken down to the sitting-room, where she could lie on the sofa before the open window, inhaling the cool sea-breezes that brought back health to the weakened frame, and colour to the pale cheeks.Soon the day arrived when the doctor pronounced the invalid strong enough to undertake the journey home; but before they started she begged for and was allowed to see Mrs. Roberts, the poor widowed mother, who gladly spoke of her little Mary, and she told Lena much of the simple holy life her child had tried to lead; and it comforted the poor mother to hear how her child had been, although unconsciously, instrumental in leading and strengthening another in the right way; and it interested Lena much to hear of the girl who, though she had seen her but once or twice, had still been able to exercise such an influence for good on her life.It was the contrast between her own feeling of wrong-doing, and the account David gave them of how Mary had tried to act, that made such a deep impression on Lena's mind, and had been the means of bringing her, in the true spirit of humility, to sue for pardon and strength to do what was right. How thankful and happy Lena now felt that she had told all, and that there was no longer in her heart or life anything that she desired to hide from her parents.Oh, if children would only remember that the good or evil they do affects, not only themselves, but may, both by example and bearing, have a powerful influence over their companions, I am sure one and all would strive to deserve the name that David had bestowed on Mary Roberts, and be, in deed and in truth, little Christians. How happy they would be, not only themselves, but would make all around them equally so!Long ere the autumn passed into winter, Lena was well and strong, and Astbury was no longer looked upon or called a new home; and although they were not able, now the cold and wet weather had set in, to spend their time in the fields and garden as at first, they found there were pleasures and joys in a country life in winter as well as in summer, and sunshine reigned indoors, for Lena and her sisters were very happy and loving together. Storms came occasionally, as among all small people; but there was not only love, but perfect trust and confidence between them all now; and when that is the case, there must be happiness in the home circle.Christmas was drawing very near, and with it the prospect of Aunt Mary's promised visit. No word had been said to Miss Somerville about Lena's wrong-doing and its long concealment. Mrs. Graham wished Lena to tell her Aunt herself, and though at first she shrank from the task, she acknowledged that she ought to do so, for, as she said to her mother, "I know I ought to, Mama, for Gerty saved me the pain of telling you, though now I should not want any one to tell you or Papa anything for me, but then it was different."Christmas also brought back, for her first holiday, Bessie Freeling from the boarding-school that she had looked forward to with so much dread, and that she had found was not so dreadful in reality as in anticipation. Like many other things in this world that we dread and think of as misfortunes, it turned out, as is so often the case, to be a real blessing when it came. Bessie was beginning to see that running about wild in the country was not all that was required to make life either useful or happy.The first evening of Aunt Mary's arrival Lena joined her in her own room. Miss Somerville sat quietly in her chair before the fire, and listened to Lena as she poured forth the account of her doings since they had parted in the summer, ending with, "I know, Auntie, that you must be disappointed and grieved with me after all my promises.""I did not expect those promises to be quite fulfilled, Lena," was her Aunt's answer."Did you think so badly of me as that, then, Aunt Mary?""Not badly, darling. I fear I thought too much of my little niece, and helped to spoil her by being too indulgent and easy.""Then why,—what do you mean, Auntie?""I mean, darling, that you spoke so confidently, and as if you were so sure of your own strength; and Lena, you know now that our own strength is but utter weakness when we are tempted."Lena's eyes filled with tears, but she made no answer as her Aunt, drawing her close to her, went on lovingly to say, "However sorry I am about the past, I am now much more happy and hopeful about your future than I was when we parted in the summer, for I feared you would have many trials and temptations to go through, that you little dreamed of in the quiet life we led together.""You warned me, Auntie; you said I must learn to give in, and share with Milly and Lucy.""Yes, dear, experience teaches us many lessons, and God has been very good to you: He has shown you the misery of wrong-doing.""Yes indeed, Auntie, I was very miserable," interrupted Lena."But, my darling, if that misery has taught you to be humble and trust less in your own strength, I cannot be sorry, but thankful for it.""And you won't love me less?""Lena!" was all her Aunt said, but it was enough."No, no, Auntie, I didn't mean that; I know you won't. You will be like Papa and Mama, who only seem to love me more, if that is possible; only," she added with a smile, "Mama says the love was always there, but I wouldn't see it.""Thank God, dear Lena, that you do see it at last.""It was only sometimes I didn't, when I thought they liked Milly best, but she deserved it if they had. O Auntie, she has been so good, and so has little Lucy; they never said one unkind word when I came home, though I had behaved so badly."A loud knock, and an impatient "Do let us in, Aunt Mary," from Lucy, interrupted them.Lena ran and opened the door, and there stood Lucy, all eagerness and excitement, and beside her was Milly, holding a big parcel in her arms, her face beaming with delight."It's for you, Lena; see, it is addressed 'Miss Graham.' It's from Mrs. Clifford," she added softly."Then it must be meant for you," answered Lena, flushing scarlet and drawing back."Never mind, Lena; open it quickly, do, and see what is inside," burst out Lucy impatiently."It is meant for you, Lena dear, so don't be afraid to open it.""I heard from Mrs. Clifford this morning that the box was sent," said her mother, coming in.Thus bidden, Lena, with her sister's help, undid the string and took off the paper. Opening the box, Lena took out and laid on the floor two parcels directed to Milly and herself. Then she drew out one with Lucy's name on it. There was no mistaking what Lucy's was."A doll for me! Oh, how lovely! My first Christmas present!" she exclaimed in delight.Lena looked at hers. On the paper was written, "For dear Lena, from Milly's godmama." Opening it, she saw a pretty soft brown hat, with a long curling ostrich feather of the same colour, and looking up she saw Milly holding one exactly the same in her hand."O Lena, how nice! We shall be exactly like, I am so glad. Aren't they lovely?""Mama," said Lena, after a pause, "may I give Lucy the feather? she deserves it, I don't;" and she tried to unfasten it as she spoke."Wait a moment, my child. Ask Lucy first if she would like it."It was difficult to get Lucy to attend to anything they said, so absorbed was she in the delights of her new doll; when she did hear, she asked in surprise, "Give it me! what for? It's your present, Lena; you should not give away presents—it is wrong.""But, Lucy, you forget what I did to Milly's white one, and let you bear the blame.""Oh, I didn't mind; at least, I knew I did not mean to spoil the feather; but I kicked it, you know.""Do let me give it to her, Mama," Lena pleaded."I don't want it, Lena, I don't want it; you and Milly will have hats alike. I mustn't speak of the white one. Milly and I decided we never would; and Bessie said she would think me very mean if I did, and I won't.""How good you are all to me!" said Lena, giving her little sister a kiss."That's because you are so much nicer now than you used to be—you are not always"—— Here Lucy stopped, abashed at Milly's indignant exclamation."Always what?" asked Lena after a moment's pause."Always wanting to be first, and going on about being the eldest. I love you ever so much more now since you have been to Sidcombe;" and the child looked round at them all, as much as to say, "There now, I have spoken out what I really think.""Dear Lena, I should rather have had that testimony to your character than all the promises of last summer, and I am sure Mama agrees with me," said Aunt Mary.Mama's answer was a loving kiss as she placed the hat on Lena's head. Then doing the same to Milly, said, "Now run down together, and show them to Papa, and ask what he thinks about them; and then put them away in your own room until Christmas morning, that day of joy, peace, and good-will towards man."As the two girls left the room together, Miss Somerville said to her sister, "They are very fond of each other.""Yes, dear," was the answer. "It makes me very happy to see their affection. I know the value of a sister's love, and I trust that no root of jealousy may ever again spring up to interrupt their perfect friendship."Printed by BALLANTYNE, HANSON & CO.Edinburgh & London* * * * * * * *Frederick Warne & Co.'s PublicationsNEW ILLUSTRATED BOOKS FOR BOYS.The Orchid Seekers. A Story of Adventure in Borneo. By Ashmore Russan and Fredk. Boyle. With Sixteen Original Illustrations by Alfred Pearse and M. F. Hartley. In large crown 8vo, cloth gilt, bevelled boards, price 5s.The Riders; or, Through Forest and Savannah with the "Red Cockades." By Ashmore Russan and Fredk. Boyle. With Twenty-six Original Illustrations by Alfred Pearse. In large crown 8vo, cloth gilt, bevelled boards, price 5s.Young Tom Bowling. A Story of the Boys of the British Navy. By J. C. Hutcheson. Fully Illustrated by J. B. Greene. In large crown 8vo, cloth gilt, bevelled boards, price 5s.An Antarctic Queen. By Captain Charles Clark. Illustrated by J. B. Greene. In crown 8vo, cloth gilt, price 5s.A splendid sea story for boys. Full of shipwrecks, storms, and peril and adventure by land and sea; how the hero escapes death from shipwreck, accident and treachery of all kinds, and finally settles down in "Antarctica," after marrying the Antarctic Queen, is related in a most attractive and realistic style.The Dogs of War. By Edgar Pickering. Illustrated by Lancelot Speed. In crown 8vo, cloth gilt, price 3s. 6d.True to the Watchword. By Edgar Pickering. Illustrated by Lancelot Speed. In crown 8vo, cloth gilt, price 3s. 6d.Pleasant, brightly written, and full of incident, is "True to the Watchword," and although a number of the characters have their place in Hume, it is only indirectly historical, the main theme of the narrative being derived from the author's imagination. Events exciting and dramatic follow fast upon each other, and the reader is often brought in contact with the grim reality of battle.Chandos House, Bedford Street, Strand, London* * * * * * * *A SERIES OFINTERESTING GIFT BOOKSFORBOYS AND GIRLS.In Crown 8vo, neatly bound in cloth gilt, each volume containingan original Frontispiece and Illustrated Title-page.LIST OF THE SERIES.Adrift in a Boat. By W. H. G. KINGSTON.Walter's Escape. By J. DE LIEFDE.Daring and Doing. By Mrs. L. VALENTINE.New Honours. By C. S. LOWNDES.Linford Green. By C. S. LOWNDES.The Brave Days of Old. By Mrs. L. VALENTINE.The Old Bible. By E. WYNNE.Jack Locke. By GORDON STABLES, R.N.The Young Marooners. By F. R. GOULDING.The Magic Half-Crown. By Author of "Crib and Fly."Jarwin and Cuffy. By R. M. BALLANTYNE.Natty's Violin. By C. H. BARSTOW.Ernest rail-field. By A. N. MALAN, M.A.Lena Graham. By C. S. LOWNDES.Phil and his Friends. By J. T. TROWBRIDGE.My Neighbour's Garden. By MARY H. DEBENHAM.Lost on Brown Willy. By A. N. MALAN, M.A.The Silver Lake. By R. M. BALLANTYNE.Through Deep Waters. By C. H. BARSTOW.Told in the Orchard. By E. L. HERVEY.Benaiah. By Mrs. WEBB.The Treasure Finder. By W. J. GORDON.Nancy's Nephew. By Miss MARSHALL.A Long Delay. By THOMAS KEYWORTH.FREDERICK WARNE & CO.,CHANDOS HOUSE, BEDFORD STREET, STRAND, LONDON;AND 36 EAST 22ND STREET, NEW YORK.*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOKLENA GRAHAM***
CHAPTER XI.
CONCLUSION.
Lena's fears that she too was going to have the fever proved only too true, for by the next day she was really ill.
All she had gone through for the last few weeks—the fear of discovery, and misery of concealment, joined with the knowledge of how wrongly she was behaving—had tried the child. Though, alas! she had been, as all children are, naughty over and over again, she had never before concealed a fault and continued to do so, as she had now done week after week; and the continual struggle that had gone on in her mind between truth and right, and the pride and jealousy for love, that were such strong features of her character, had told upon body as well as mind, and made her fall an easy prey to the low fever that had broken out in the village and neighbourhood of Sidcombe; and for the next few days she had but a very dim and hazy idea of what was going on around her.
Fortunately the attack was in a mild form, and the weather was much cooler than it had been before the fever broke out, heavy rain having fallen, which cooled the air and revived the sick and drooping, and the doctor was soon able to pronounce his little patient on the high road to recovery.
When Lena first began to take notice of who was beside her, she expressed no astonishment at seeing her mother's face bending over her and hearing her whisper a few loving words in answer to her. "What is the matter, Mama?"
"You have been ill, dear, but, please God, you will soon be well again."
Lena was quite satisfied, and asked no more questions—it only seemed natural to have Papa and Mama beside her; but gradually the recollections of the day before she was taken ill came back to her, and she remembered that it was Gertrude and Miss Gifford who had been with her then. The latter was still constantly beside her, but it was Gertrude she wanted to see and speak to, as she remembered everything clearly. Had she told Miss Gifford? She wondered if she had; she certainly was not angry, for she could not have been kinder to any one than she was to Lena.
"Mama, where is Gertrude?" she asked.
"Gone home, dear, for we were afraid of her being taken ill also if she remained."
After a few minutes' silence Lena murmured, "My letter; I never wrote it."
"My darling," whispered Mrs. Graham, leaning over her child and placing her hand lovingly on her forehead, "There is no need to write—Gertrude has told me all."
"O Mama, and are you angry? Do you still love me, when I am so wicked?"
"Still love you, my little one! You cannot doubt that we all forgive you fully and freely. O my child, never fear to tell us everything and anything you do or think."
Lena's arms were round her mother's neck in a moment, and she said, as she clung fondly to her, "No, Mama, I never, never will. It was not you I was afraid of, but Papa. I thought he would be so angry."
Lena did not think Papa stern, or one likely to cause any one fear, when later that day he spoke a few loving words to his child; and as she kissed him, she felt that never again would she think him stern. Her only wonder was how she could ever have feared him, or doubted the love of either of them ceasing because she had done wrong.
As Lena lay still that evening, her hand clasped in Mama's, and her eyes fixed upon Papa, who was reading out her letters from Milly and Gertrude, Lena felt so happy and contented. There was no longer any fear in her heart, for there was nothing to be hidden, and the child's heart swelled with gratitude as she thought how good every one had been and now were to her.
When the letters were finished, Lena asked suddenly, "How is little Mary; is she better?"
A moment's silence followed, and then Mama said, "Little Mary has gone to that home where she will never have pain or suffering more, my Lena; she is with her Saviour now, dear."
"Dead, Mama—dead! and she was only twelve years old, just my age. Her poor mother"——
And her eyes filled with tears as she added, "And David, how sorry he must be, he was so fond of her!"
"Yes, dear, we must pity them, but not little Mary herself; she is happy, perfectly happy now."
"O Mama, I am so glad I did not die too, for I was not good like her, and I hadn't told you and Papa. I meant to that very night, but Miss Gifford would not let me write."
"God has been very good to us all, as He always is, Lena, and has spared my little girl to us, and given her another opportunity of living and working for Him."
"Indeed, indeed I will try."
"Now, dear, you must not talk any more or get excited. We feared to tell you about little Mary, in case it should upset you while you were so weak, but Papa and I decided that if you asked we would tell you the truth; for we have all decided, have we not, that we are to have no concealments or deceptions any more,—have we not?" she repeated.
"No, I never will; I mean," she added humbly, "I will try not to."
After that day Lena grew rapidly better, and was soon able to be taken down to the sitting-room, where she could lie on the sofa before the open window, inhaling the cool sea-breezes that brought back health to the weakened frame, and colour to the pale cheeks.
Soon the day arrived when the doctor pronounced the invalid strong enough to undertake the journey home; but before they started she begged for and was allowed to see Mrs. Roberts, the poor widowed mother, who gladly spoke of her little Mary, and she told Lena much of the simple holy life her child had tried to lead; and it comforted the poor mother to hear how her child had been, although unconsciously, instrumental in leading and strengthening another in the right way; and it interested Lena much to hear of the girl who, though she had seen her but once or twice, had still been able to exercise such an influence for good on her life.
It was the contrast between her own feeling of wrong-doing, and the account David gave them of how Mary had tried to act, that made such a deep impression on Lena's mind, and had been the means of bringing her, in the true spirit of humility, to sue for pardon and strength to do what was right. How thankful and happy Lena now felt that she had told all, and that there was no longer in her heart or life anything that she desired to hide from her parents.
Oh, if children would only remember that the good or evil they do affects, not only themselves, but may, both by example and bearing, have a powerful influence over their companions, I am sure one and all would strive to deserve the name that David had bestowed on Mary Roberts, and be, in deed and in truth, little Christians. How happy they would be, not only themselves, but would make all around them equally so!
Long ere the autumn passed into winter, Lena was well and strong, and Astbury was no longer looked upon or called a new home; and although they were not able, now the cold and wet weather had set in, to spend their time in the fields and garden as at first, they found there were pleasures and joys in a country life in winter as well as in summer, and sunshine reigned indoors, for Lena and her sisters were very happy and loving together. Storms came occasionally, as among all small people; but there was not only love, but perfect trust and confidence between them all now; and when that is the case, there must be happiness in the home circle.
Christmas was drawing very near, and with it the prospect of Aunt Mary's promised visit. No word had been said to Miss Somerville about Lena's wrong-doing and its long concealment. Mrs. Graham wished Lena to tell her Aunt herself, and though at first she shrank from the task, she acknowledged that she ought to do so, for, as she said to her mother, "I know I ought to, Mama, for Gerty saved me the pain of telling you, though now I should not want any one to tell you or Papa anything for me, but then it was different."
Christmas also brought back, for her first holiday, Bessie Freeling from the boarding-school that she had looked forward to with so much dread, and that she had found was not so dreadful in reality as in anticipation. Like many other things in this world that we dread and think of as misfortunes, it turned out, as is so often the case, to be a real blessing when it came. Bessie was beginning to see that running about wild in the country was not all that was required to make life either useful or happy.
The first evening of Aunt Mary's arrival Lena joined her in her own room. Miss Somerville sat quietly in her chair before the fire, and listened to Lena as she poured forth the account of her doings since they had parted in the summer, ending with, "I know, Auntie, that you must be disappointed and grieved with me after all my promises."
"I did not expect those promises to be quite fulfilled, Lena," was her Aunt's answer.
"Did you think so badly of me as that, then, Aunt Mary?"
"Not badly, darling. I fear I thought too much of my little niece, and helped to spoil her by being too indulgent and easy."
"Then why,—what do you mean, Auntie?"
"I mean, darling, that you spoke so confidently, and as if you were so sure of your own strength; and Lena, you know now that our own strength is but utter weakness when we are tempted."
Lena's eyes filled with tears, but she made no answer as her Aunt, drawing her close to her, went on lovingly to say, "However sorry I am about the past, I am now much more happy and hopeful about your future than I was when we parted in the summer, for I feared you would have many trials and temptations to go through, that you little dreamed of in the quiet life we led together."
"You warned me, Auntie; you said I must learn to give in, and share with Milly and Lucy."
"Yes, dear, experience teaches us many lessons, and God has been very good to you: He has shown you the misery of wrong-doing."
"Yes indeed, Auntie, I was very miserable," interrupted Lena.
"But, my darling, if that misery has taught you to be humble and trust less in your own strength, I cannot be sorry, but thankful for it."
"And you won't love me less?"
"Lena!" was all her Aunt said, but it was enough.
"No, no, Auntie, I didn't mean that; I know you won't. You will be like Papa and Mama, who only seem to love me more, if that is possible; only," she added with a smile, "Mama says the love was always there, but I wouldn't see it."
"Thank God, dear Lena, that you do see it at last."
"It was only sometimes I didn't, when I thought they liked Milly best, but she deserved it if they had. O Auntie, she has been so good, and so has little Lucy; they never said one unkind word when I came home, though I had behaved so badly."
A loud knock, and an impatient "Do let us in, Aunt Mary," from Lucy, interrupted them.
Lena ran and opened the door, and there stood Lucy, all eagerness and excitement, and beside her was Milly, holding a big parcel in her arms, her face beaming with delight.
"It's for you, Lena; see, it is addressed 'Miss Graham.' It's from Mrs. Clifford," she added softly.
"Then it must be meant for you," answered Lena, flushing scarlet and drawing back.
"Never mind, Lena; open it quickly, do, and see what is inside," burst out Lucy impatiently.
"It is meant for you, Lena dear, so don't be afraid to open it."
"I heard from Mrs. Clifford this morning that the box was sent," said her mother, coming in.
Thus bidden, Lena, with her sister's help, undid the string and took off the paper. Opening the box, Lena took out and laid on the floor two parcels directed to Milly and herself. Then she drew out one with Lucy's name on it. There was no mistaking what Lucy's was.
"A doll for me! Oh, how lovely! My first Christmas present!" she exclaimed in delight.
Lena looked at hers. On the paper was written, "For dear Lena, from Milly's godmama." Opening it, she saw a pretty soft brown hat, with a long curling ostrich feather of the same colour, and looking up she saw Milly holding one exactly the same in her hand.
"O Lena, how nice! We shall be exactly like, I am so glad. Aren't they lovely?"
"Mama," said Lena, after a pause, "may I give Lucy the feather? she deserves it, I don't;" and she tried to unfasten it as she spoke.
"Wait a moment, my child. Ask Lucy first if she would like it."
It was difficult to get Lucy to attend to anything they said, so absorbed was she in the delights of her new doll; when she did hear, she asked in surprise, "Give it me! what for? It's your present, Lena; you should not give away presents—it is wrong."
"But, Lucy, you forget what I did to Milly's white one, and let you bear the blame."
"Oh, I didn't mind; at least, I knew I did not mean to spoil the feather; but I kicked it, you know."
"Do let me give it to her, Mama," Lena pleaded.
"I don't want it, Lena, I don't want it; you and Milly will have hats alike. I mustn't speak of the white one. Milly and I decided we never would; and Bessie said she would think me very mean if I did, and I won't."
"How good you are all to me!" said Lena, giving her little sister a kiss.
"That's because you are so much nicer now than you used to be—you are not always"—— Here Lucy stopped, abashed at Milly's indignant exclamation.
"Always what?" asked Lena after a moment's pause.
"Always wanting to be first, and going on about being the eldest. I love you ever so much more now since you have been to Sidcombe;" and the child looked round at them all, as much as to say, "There now, I have spoken out what I really think."
"Dear Lena, I should rather have had that testimony to your character than all the promises of last summer, and I am sure Mama agrees with me," said Aunt Mary.
Mama's answer was a loving kiss as she placed the hat on Lena's head. Then doing the same to Milly, said, "Now run down together, and show them to Papa, and ask what he thinks about them; and then put them away in your own room until Christmas morning, that day of joy, peace, and good-will towards man."
As the two girls left the room together, Miss Somerville said to her sister, "They are very fond of each other."
"Yes, dear," was the answer. "It makes me very happy to see their affection. I know the value of a sister's love, and I trust that no root of jealousy may ever again spring up to interrupt their perfect friendship."
Printed by BALLANTYNE, HANSON & CO.Edinburgh & London
* * * * * * * *
Frederick Warne & Co.'s Publications
NEW ILLUSTRATED BOOKS FOR BOYS.
The Orchid Seekers. A Story of Adventure in Borneo. By Ashmore Russan and Fredk. Boyle. With Sixteen Original Illustrations by Alfred Pearse and M. F. Hartley. In large crown 8vo, cloth gilt, bevelled boards, price 5s.
The Riders; or, Through Forest and Savannah with the "Red Cockades." By Ashmore Russan and Fredk. Boyle. With Twenty-six Original Illustrations by Alfred Pearse. In large crown 8vo, cloth gilt, bevelled boards, price 5s.
Young Tom Bowling. A Story of the Boys of the British Navy. By J. C. Hutcheson. Fully Illustrated by J. B. Greene. In large crown 8vo, cloth gilt, bevelled boards, price 5s.
An Antarctic Queen. By Captain Charles Clark. Illustrated by J. B. Greene. In crown 8vo, cloth gilt, price 5s.
A splendid sea story for boys. Full of shipwrecks, storms, and peril and adventure by land and sea; how the hero escapes death from shipwreck, accident and treachery of all kinds, and finally settles down in "Antarctica," after marrying the Antarctic Queen, is related in a most attractive and realistic style.
The Dogs of War. By Edgar Pickering. Illustrated by Lancelot Speed. In crown 8vo, cloth gilt, price 3s. 6d.
True to the Watchword. By Edgar Pickering. Illustrated by Lancelot Speed. In crown 8vo, cloth gilt, price 3s. 6d.
Pleasant, brightly written, and full of incident, is "True to the Watchword," and although a number of the characters have their place in Hume, it is only indirectly historical, the main theme of the narrative being derived from the author's imagination. Events exciting and dramatic follow fast upon each other, and the reader is often brought in contact with the grim reality of battle.
Chandos House, Bedford Street, Strand, London
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A SERIES OFINTERESTING GIFT BOOKSFORBOYS AND GIRLS.
In Crown 8vo, neatly bound in cloth gilt, each volume containingan original Frontispiece and Illustrated Title-page.
LIST OF THE SERIES.
Adrift in a Boat. By W. H. G. KINGSTON.Walter's Escape. By J. DE LIEFDE.Daring and Doing. By Mrs. L. VALENTINE.New Honours. By C. S. LOWNDES.Linford Green. By C. S. LOWNDES.The Brave Days of Old. By Mrs. L. VALENTINE.The Old Bible. By E. WYNNE.Jack Locke. By GORDON STABLES, R.N.The Young Marooners. By F. R. GOULDING.The Magic Half-Crown. By Author of "Crib and Fly."Jarwin and Cuffy. By R. M. BALLANTYNE.Natty's Violin. By C. H. BARSTOW.Ernest rail-field. By A. N. MALAN, M.A.Lena Graham. By C. S. LOWNDES.Phil and his Friends. By J. T. TROWBRIDGE.My Neighbour's Garden. By MARY H. DEBENHAM.Lost on Brown Willy. By A. N. MALAN, M.A.The Silver Lake. By R. M. BALLANTYNE.Through Deep Waters. By C. H. BARSTOW.Told in the Orchard. By E. L. HERVEY.Benaiah. By Mrs. WEBB.The Treasure Finder. By W. J. GORDON.Nancy's Nephew. By Miss MARSHALL.A Long Delay. By THOMAS KEYWORTH.
FREDERICK WARNE & CO.,CHANDOS HOUSE, BEDFORD STREET, STRAND, LONDON;AND 36 EAST 22ND STREET, NEW YORK.
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