"What a comfort! the day-light is lengthening.

I think this has been the very dreariest winter I ever knew.

Has it not, my little daughter?
Who brought her these violets ?" And John placed himself on a corner of my own particular armchair, where, somehow or other, Muriel always lay curled up at tea-time now--( ay, and many hours in the day-time, though we hardly noticed it at first).

Taking between his hands the little face, which broke into smiles at the merest touch of the father's fingers, he asked her "when she intended to go a walk with him ?" "To-morrow." "So we have said for a great many to-morrows, but it is always put off.
What do you think, mother--is the little maid strong enough ?" Mrs.Halifax hesitated; said something about "east winds." "Yet I think it would do her good if she braved east winds, and played out of doors as the boys do.

Would you not like it, Muriel ?" The child shrank back with an involuntary "Oh, no." "That is because she is a little girl, necessarily less strong than the lads are.