"She would do quite as well for Ella at the Roselands; wouldn't she, Cal?" said Dr. Arthur Conly with a humorous look at his elder brother.

"Not a doubt of it; for ourselves too, for that matter," laughed Calhoun.

"Or for us at the Oaks," remarked the younger Mr. Horace Dinsmore; and his sister Mrs. Lacey added, "Or for us at the Laurels."

"Evidently she is in no danger of finding herself homeless," remarked the father of the last two with a smile.

"No, indeed! not while her older Cousin Elsie has one or more to offer her," added the sweet voice of his eldest daughter. "I propose that some of us take her into the city tomorrow morning and buy for her whatever may be needed to supply her with a wardrobe equal to that of any one of our own girls."

"A very good thought, cousin," said Mr. Lilburn, "and with your leave I shall make one of that party. And might it not be well to take the lass herself with us and consult her own taste to supplement the good judgment of yourself and any of the other ladies who may care to accompany us?"

And give her the pleasure of seeing the city too," said Zoe, "if she is sufficiently rested from her long and wearisome journey to enjoy it."

After a little more talk it was fully decided that the trip to the city and the shopping should be undertaken on the morrow, and Marian invited to accompany them or not, as might suit her inclination.

CHAPTER III.

THE tea-hour drew near and the young folks came trooping in and joined their elders on the veranda. All had presently found seats and were chatting gayly with their elders or among themselves. Marian alone, occupying a chair close by Mr. Lilburn's side, was a silent though interested listener, until Captain Raymond, turning to her, asked in his pleasant tones how she liked Ion.

"O sir!" she exclaimed with enthusiasm, "it is lovely! lovely! but not any more beautiful than Woodburn."

"Ah! I am glad you like Woodburn also, because I want it to be one of your homes, and its school-room one of the places where you may get such an education as I know you want. Do you think you could content yourself with me for a tutor?”

"O sir! how kind you are to me!" she exclaimed with tears of joy in her eyes. "If you will accept me as a pupil I shall strive most earnestly to do credit to your teaching. But ah! I fear you will find me but a dull scholar, and

teaching me much too heavy a tax upon your time and patience.'

"Never fear," he returned pleasantly. "I incline to the opinion that I shall enjoy having one or more pupils. I think it will add interest to my work and take scarcely more of my time."

While this little conversation was being carried on, Cousin Ronald had caught a very wishful, entreating look from Walter, to which he had nodded a smiling assent, and now the loud warble of a bird, seemingly right in their midst, caught every eye and ear and all eyes turned toward the spot from which the sound seemed to

come.

66

Why, where is the birdie? I don't see it," exclaimed little Elsie as the sounds suddenly ceased.

"I'spect it flewed away," cried little Ned, sending quick glances from side to side and overhead.

Walter's face was full of suppressed delight, but he dodged suddenly, putting up his hand to drive away a bee that seemed to be circling about his head, buzzing now at one ear, now at the other; then recalling the probable cause, he laughed aloud, others of the company joining in with him.

Marian, too, had heard the buzzing and was looking up and around for a bee, when a “Peep,

peep, peep!" close at hand made her look down and around upon the floor at her feet.

Her countenance expressed surprise and bewilderment that no chick was in sight.

"Peep, peep, peep!" came again, seemingly from her pocket or among the folds of her dressskirt. She rose hastily to her feet, shook her skirts, then thrust her hand into her pocket.

"Why, where is it?" she asked, looking somewhat alarmed.

"Why, it seems to have come to me!" Grace Raymond exclaimed as the "Peep, peep, peep! was heard again apparently from among her skirts, and she too sprang to her feet and shook herself with a downward glance at them and a little nervous laugh. She was near her father, and he drew her to his knee, saying softly, "Don't be alarmed, darling, for you know there is really nothing there."

"Walter, can't you hunt up that chick?" asked Edward, looking gravely at his little brother. "Think how bad it would be for the poor little thing if somebody should accidentally tramp upon it."

"Why, I shan't need to hunt it!" exclaimed Walter. As the "Peep, peep, peep!" seemed to come from his pocket, he thrust his hand into it and sprang to his feet as he spoke; but at that instant a loud and furious barking just