Soon after, they arrived at the gardengate, and the pleasant walk was done; but Minnie whispered to Ellen as she stooped to gather a dwarf rose, "I shall never forget this walk, Ellen, if I live to be a hundred."

CHAPTER IX.

A HAPPY MEETING.

"Some feelings are to mortals given,

With less of earth in them than heaven."

W. SCOTT.

It was about the 28th of May, and Mrs. Herbert and her two nieces were at breakfast. The Times newspaper had just been brought in with the letters, and as there were none for Effie, she consoled herself by looking over the newspaper. Having examined the births, marriages, and deaths, and turned the paper inside out until she had drawn down a rebuke from her aunt for the rustling noise she was making, she was just going to lay it aside, declaring there was nothing to read, when her eye caught the word "Marseilles." "Telegraphic

message just received.

The steamer from

Alexandria has arrived, bringing passengers, etc., from Bombay." Then followed a list of names, and among them "Mrs. Thornton."

She started up with an exclamation of "Oh,

delight, and read the paragraph aloud.

I am so very glad," said she, while her eyes sparkled with real pleasure. "Helen, when will she arrive in England?"

“To-morrow, I should think," said Helen, "if the message came yesterday. Give me the paper. I am very glad."

"And what should you both be so glad for, I wonder?" said Mrs. Herbert, in a cold, measured tone. "I do not see how it affects you."

66 Oh, but it does, aunt; it affects me all over. I must go down and see if the Thorntons know."

66

Nonsense, my dear; sit down and cat your breakfast, and don't behave as if you had been galvanized."

"Aunt, I can't sit down, and I can't eat

my breakfast, and you must let me go-you must indeed;" and so saying Effie waited for no further permission, but tying on her garden hat, which she found in the hall, she was out of the house, and through the village, and in at Mrs. Thornton's gate, in almost as short a time as it has taken to record her movements.

She found them at breakfast, and poured forth her glad news, before any of them had time to express their surprise at her unwonted appearance. If her aunt's cold demeanour had disappointed her, she had no cause to complain now. A shout of joy burst from the children's lips, while the old lady showed her more quiet participation in their feelings, by her trembling lip and tearful eye.

And now all was excitement and delight. It was impossible for any one to be quiet. Miss Willis made one faint effort to gather her young pupils into the school-room, but it was in vain. Flora, who never resisted any one, rose to follow her, but the others

with one voice appealed to their grandmother, Percy holding Flora back all the while.

"Grandmama, we can't do anything to-day; we are almost too happy to live.”

"Well, then, Miss Willis, we will leave them to their own devices," said Mrs. Thornton; and away went the happy children, Percy to the stable, to get his pony, with a sort of undefined idea of riding somewhere, or doing something, to forward the happy moment of meeting, and the others plying Effie with questions, and entreating her to stay with them, and tell them all she knew.

"Helen says she will come to-morrow;" and as Helen was to Effie a sort of oracle, she became one immediately to the children. "Helen knows exactly how long it takes to travel from Marseilles to England, and I suppose she may come any time tomorrow."

"Then I shall get up very early," said little Louisa, "and go down to the garden