The Little Princess of Tower Hill
e girl. She was sometimes spoken about as the "Little Princess of Tower Hill," f
ere had been a great fuss made about her. At the time of her birth bonfires had been lit, and oxen killed and roasted whole to be given away to the poor people, and Sir John and Lady Ascot did not seem at all disappointed at their baby being a girl instead of a son and heir to the old title and the fine old place. There was a most extraordinary fuss made over Maggie while she was a baby; her mother was never tired of visiting her grand nurseries and watching her as she lay asleep, or smiling at her and kissing her when she opened her big, bright blue eyes. The eyes in question were very pretty, so also was the little face, and the father and mother quite thought that there never was such a baby as their little Maggie. They had christened her Margarita Henrietta Villiers; these were all old family names, and very suitable to the child of proud old co
off to the brightest gold; her eyes were large, and blue, and well open; her cheeks were pink, her lips rosy, and she had a saucy, never-me-care look, which her father and mother and the visitors who saw her thought wonderfully charming, but which now and then her nurse and her patient governess, Miss Grey, objected to. All things that money could buy, and all things that love could devise, we
f apartments, and then also the troubles of her small life began. Hitherto everything had gone for Maggie Ascot with such smoothness and regularity, with such an eager desire on the part of every one around her not only to grant her wishes, but almost to anticipa
quite in love with her, and had sat on her knee, and listened to her charming stories, and in fact for the first day or two would scarcely leave her new friend's side; but when lessons commenced, Maggie began to alter her mind about Miss Grey. That young lady was as firm as she was gentle, and she insisted not only on her little pupil obeying h
K THOSE WHITE
ll to you, Miss Grey, darling," she continued, raising her fearless and saucy eyes to her governess' face. "Here you go, you tiresome old boo
your seat, Maggie dear. You for
't mean to learn to read-I don't like reading-I like being read to. I shan't eve
ardener, told you last night you were not to pick any mo
and she failed to see any reason for her small crosses. Miss Grey was kind, and conscientious, and painstaking, but she certainly did not understand the spoiled but warm-hearted little girl she was engaged to teach, and the two did not pull well toge
and to nurse turning her about with many jerks as she tied her pink sash into the most becoming bow-"what'
at I call over-ripe. I had a nephew once whose brain went like th
ainly the progress Maggie had made in her studies was not sufficiently remarkable to induce any one to dread evil consequences to her little brain. She tro
ou ever hear nurse
ot favor me with much news about her domestic
r-ripe," answered Maggie, "so you'd
ver-ripe nephew! Don't let's think of him. Have a peach, little one. Her
ittle nod of thanks, but she was p
I quite 'spect I'll s
but Lady Ascot nodded to her husband to take no notice of
r little girl is determined to grow up a dunce-she simply won't learn, and she won't
er; send her away," prono
ason for giving her notice to leave us-and-and-John, even though Mag
s me, I never sa
; indeed, I think we must not allow her to have the victory in this matter. If we sent Miss Grey away, M
le maid must be taught discipline; we'd none of us be anywhere without it; eh, wife?
d idea," repli
e him. I'll go up to town to-morrow, and call and see her. Ra