Friarswood Post-Office

aid Ellen King, as she mounted the stairs.

a voice from

eclare! I only wonder you did not find of him up here! The police ought to hind

ridge-that chap about

't good enough for a scare-crow-and the dirt, you can'

to see any more.' And the eyes filled with tears; there was a working about the thin ch

ished that,' said Ellen. 'Don't think about i

as he laid his head down on his white pillow, an

s, that he was right, and nothing could make up for the health and

blue eyes, the long fingers hanging limp and delicate as a lady's, the limbs stretched helplessly on the couch, whither it cost him so much

e was a carpet on the floor, and the chairs had chintz cushions; the walls were as white as snow, and there were pretty china ornaments on the mantel-piece, many little pictures hanging upon the walls, and quite a shelf of books upon the white cloth, lai

and slim, her lilac dress and white collar fitting beautifully, her black apron sitting nicely to her trim waist, and her light hair shining, like the newly-wound silk of the silk-worm,

hither once too often; he had caught his death of cold one bitter day when Lady Jane Selby was obliged to go to a drawing

little matters, besides capital bread of her own baking, and various sweet-meats, the best to the taste of her own cooking, the prettiest to the eye brought from Elbury. Oranges too, and apples, shewed their yellow or rosy cheeks at her window in their season; and there was sometimes a side of bacon, displaying under the brown coat the delicate pin

much fear for his sister Matilda; but Lady Jane had contrived to have her taken as maid to a lady who usually spent the winter abroad, and the warm climate had strengthened her health. She was not often at Friarswood; but wh

is was over, Alfred's illness had begun; and as he wanted constant care and attendance, it was thought better that she should t

and really seemed sometimes as if they could not sit still, nor hinder themselves from making faces, and playing tricks; but that was the worst of them-they never told untruths, never did anything mean or unfair, and cou

wine-glasses, three cups, and a decanter, all from not knowing where he was going; he had put sugar instead of salt into the salt-cellars at the housekeeper's dining-table, that he might see what she would say; and he had been caught dressing up Miss Jane's Skye terrier in one of the butler's clean cravats; so, though Puck, the aforesaid terrier, liked him better than any othe

g district that depended on that post-office. All letters from thence must be in the post before five o'clock, at which time they were to be sent in to Elbury. The post-master at Elbury asked i

chill; and though he went as close to the fire as possible, and steamed like the tea-kettle while he ate his breakfast and his mother sorted the letters, he had not time to warm himself thoroughly before he had to ride off to leave them-two miles further altogether; for besides the bag for the Grange, and all the lette

but his idleness had prevented his keeping any such place. It might have been the cold and wet, or, as Alfred thought, it might have been the strain he gave himself one day when he was

itself into the hip joint, and it was but too plain that Alfred must be a great sufferer for a long time, and perhaps a cripple for life. But how long might this life be? His mother dared not think. Alfred himself, poor boy, was always trying with his whole might to believe himself getting better; and Ellen and Harold a

t. Sloping down from the farm-yard, the ground led to the river, a smooth clear stream, where the white ducks looked very pretty, swimming, diving, and 'standing tail upwards;' and there was a high-arched bridge over it, where Alfred could get a good view of the carriages that chanced to come by, and had lately seen all the young gentlemen of Ragglesford going home for the summer holidays, making such a whooping and hurrahing, that the place rang again; and beyond, there were beautiful green meadows, with a straight path through them, leading to a stile; and beyond that, woods rose up, and

urst out, however, 'Oh, Alfred! there's Harold coming running back! There he is, jumping over t

, as if each of her words gave him unbearab

oke forth again, 'Now then, Alfred, you will be

d began smoothing his coverings, collecting her scraps, and tidying

he hay over him with her parasol! Oh, look, Alfred!' and she was going to lift him up, but he only murmured a cross 'Can't you be quiet?' and she let him alone, but went on talking: 'Ah, there's Puck's little tail wriggling out-hinder-end foremost-h

o to her? He won't bi

so frightened! There, he looked at her, and she ga

or Alfred, who was far too miserable just then to agree with any one, though at almost any other time he would have longed to knock down

case, and never trusted in common. She was afraid to allow her to go about the village, or into the school and cottages, always fancying she might be made ill, or meet with some harm; but Mrs. King being an old servant,

ything, that she was like one much younger. The sight of the rough stranger on the bridge was really startling to her, and she came across the road and garden as fast

raight up-stairs. Alfred raised up his head, and beheld the little fairy through the open d

fect in the eyes of her grandmamma and of Mrs. King and her children, if of nobody else. Alfred, in his present dismal state, only felt vexed at a fresh person

to-day?' said the sweet g

ays called himself better, whatever he felt; but

ter; 'no sleep at all since two o'clock, and he is s

as to hear that he was low, f

oung lady kindly. 'Was it

ot so much-'

by opening her basket. 'I've brought you a new book, Alfr

Ma'

ou lik

, Ma

nd disappointed Miss Jane, who thought he would h

d you laughing to yourself at Ernest and the shell of soup. An

her basket again, and brought out a neat little packet of green leaves, with some strawbe

y distaste for everything, and Miss Selby saw that he was not as much pleased as she meant him to be; she looked at him wistfully, and, half grieved, half impatient, she longed to kn

saw Alfred really did enjoy this: his hand was in the long rough coat, and he was whispering, 'Poor Puck,' and 'Good little doggie;' and the little hairy rummag

aid to Ellen, 'What a wild-look

llen; 'I was quite afrai

then I knew I was too near friends for harm to come to me;' and she laughe

t honestly; but I never did see any one so dirty. And there's Alfred wishin

ane, rather puzzled by the appeal; 'and perhaps that poor beggar-boy would

in the world-to be able to run about again in the hay-field! No, don't talk to me, Ellen, I say-I

again, and would hear nothing. The two girls both stood trembling. Ellen looked

ied to speak, choked by tears. 'Dear Alfred, don't say such dread

utter distress, as if

good,' continued Miss Jane, th

od it can do me to li

Alfred,

ners, so that Ellen stood dismayed, 'it does not do me g

old!' said J

out like mad, and jumping and leaping, and goin

and fast, and perha

the right thing, 'sometimes things are sent to

ried angrily. 'There have been many worse

ho is worse, but what on

d gru

d; and I dare say I should be just as bad myself if I were as ill; but do, pray

er to go home, so she said anxiously, 'Good-bye, Alfred; I hope you'll be better next time-and-and-' She bent down and

et and wishing Ellen good-bye, she saw that the strange lad had moved nearer the house, and timid li

jection; and looking down-stairs, she saw her brother Harold waiting while his

o much amazed, that she could s

and that if the young lady would give him work, he'd thank her;

hallooed out Alfred's voi

ne, frightened into spirit; 'stan

out at the house door as bold as a little liones

moment as if he were going to grin, or say something impudent; but the quiet childish form stepping on so simply and steadily seemed to disarm him, and

and wondering what that stranger could be, counting the h

so much carried out of himself, th