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'Bosoh in tufted trees'

It was breakfast ti-rooht from the fire, the weather and scene outside seeray The long-armed trees and shrubs of juniper, cedar, and pine varieties, were grayish black; those of the broad-leaved sort, together with the herbage, were grayish-green; the eternal hills and tower behind theray of the purest melancholy

Yet in spite of this so was not one which tended to lower the spirits It was even cheering For it did not rain, nor was rain likely to fall for many days to come

Elfride had turned fro a hand-screen before her face, when she heard the click of a little gate outside

'Ah, here's the posth an opening in the shrubbery and across the lawn She vanished, andin with her hands behind her back

'How many are there? Three for papa, one for Mr Smith, none for Miss Swancourt And, papa, look here, one of yours is fro HARD in it--a luh the envelope, and can't think what it is'

'What does Luxellian write for, I wonder?' Mr Swancourt had said simultaneously with her words He handed Stephen his letter, and took his own, putting on his countenance a higher class of look than was custo to read a letter from a peer

Stephen read his missive with a countenance quite the reverse of the vicar's

'PERCY PLACE, Thursday Evening

'DEAR SMITH

,--Old H is in a towering rage with you for being so long about the church sketches Swears you are more trouble than you are worth He says I aer on any consideration--that he would have done it all in three hours very easily I told him that you were not like an experienced hand, which he seeet, but it did not make much difference However, between you and me privately, if I were you I would not alarm myself for a day or so, if I were not inclined to return I would make out the week and finish my spree He will blow up just as much if you appear here on Saturday as if you keep away till Monday