Little Folks (October 1884) / A Magazine for the Young

nd Mr. Rivers kissed the trembling, nervous little girl on the forehead, and waved her out of the room. The interview had been brief, an

a'am?" she asked timidly, as she clung

he terrace. The children go in every evening to see him for half an hour, and you will go with them. We have breakfast at nine, and tea at seven. Your cousins drive in to Wakeley every day to Doctor Mayson's school; they leave at half-past nine, and get back by three. Sometimes they ride their ponies, but oftener they drive in the little

ual; but I have been up a goo

ear, dear! what could folk

regularly," Agnes replied gravely. "Even when Doctor Evans did send

to her. But either her eyes or the glasses were dim again in a moment. That poor, fragile little creature up at night, ministerin

are you,

or Evans said rest and care would do wonders for me. I never had much rest at home, and I was always ver

r write to your uncle?" Mrs. Mitten

t? But she came at once, and took me away to her house-ever so much a finer house than the one we lodged in, but not nearly so fine or beautiful as this; and she made my black frocks, and took me to dear father

inly it was best for you to com

ink my cousins

Agnes. They are the best and

gh?" Agnes ad

the most just and most generous gentleman in the world, and I'm sure he will be very kind to you; only you must do just what he says, my dear. All the troubles in the wo

now my fat

ried him about in m

love him,

, we all loved him, dearie: he was the light and life of the house, but he would hav

ed up at M

ma'am," she whispered nervously, yet eag

re's no mistake about that; he would hav

s so sad and so sorry, so poor

im; he was proud with the pride that goes before destruction.

rmly. "My father was an angel and a martyr. He was not proud or unforgiving, and he suf

born; and it's righted at last, thank Heaven! righted at last. Now, my poor lamb, we will talk of all those things no more; your troubles are over, and all you have to do is to get well and strong and rosy, and be as happy as ever you can; and always r

up at mrs. mi

y down very

he birds sing. If he knew I was here now, how happy he would be!" So Agnes mused aloud, resting in the warm summer sunshine. Her thoughts flew back to the dreary London lodging where her whole short life had been passed; her heart swell

es roused her, and in a bewilde

it worth my while to sketch her!" one voice said, contemptuously. "If sh

other voice said decidedly. "She might not make a nice picture, but she lo

." It would not mend matters in the least to tell them that she had overheard their criticism, so she resolved to be silent, but when Mrs. Mittens came, a little later, to conduct her to the dining-room, she was very shy and nervous. As she took her place, she looked at the boys wistfully, wondering which of them thought her "ugly," and which thought her pleasant enough to look at curled up on the sofa. Secretly, she hoped that Eddie was her champion, but before the dinner was over it was easy enough to see that Bertie was going to be the shy little girl's fr