The smiles of Meta and of the children were a pretty sight, and Ethel thought she had never seen anything so like a beneficent fairy.

Mr.and Mrs.Wilmot said their words of counsel and encouragement, and, by five o'clock, all was over.
"Oh, I am sorry!" said Meta, "Easter won't come again for a whole year, and it has been so delightful.

How that dear little Annie smiled and nursed her doll! I wish I could see her show it to her mother! Oh, how nice it is! I am so glad papa brought me to live in the country.

I don't think anything can be so charming in all the world as seeing little children happy!" Ethel could not think how the Wilmots could have found it in their heart to regret the liberality of this sweet damsel, on whom she began to look with Norman's enthusiastic admiration.
There was time for a walk round the grounds, Meta doing the honours to Flora, and Ethel walking with Mrs.Larpent.Both pairs were very good friends, and the two sisters admired and were charmed with the beauty of the gardens and conservatories--Ethel laying up a rich store of intelligence for Margaret; but still she was not entirely happy; her papa was more and more on her mind.

He had looked dispirited at breakfast; he had a long hard day's work before him, and she was increasingly uneasy at the thought that it would be a painful effort to him to join them in the evening.