n at home may
be better able to spare you in a day or two, Miss Violet."

"Thank you. It would be very pleasant, but--"

"Why not send all together?" said Philip. "Ned and Jessie and wee
Polly, with Charlotte and Sarah? I dare say they would all be better of
a change, poor little souls!"

"I dare say they can do without it, thank you," said Violet, stiffly.

"For what? My suggestion? They would like it, I am sure."

"People cannot get all they like in this world."

"Violet," said Frank, solemnly, "I believe you are cross."

"I am almost afraid I am," said Violet, laughing uneasily.

"For the first time in your life. Something dreadful must have happened
at the bridge house to-day!"

"No; nothing happened."

"The children are not better, that is what is the matter," said Philip;
"though it ought not to make you cross, only sorry. Depend on it, it is
change they want," said Philip, with the air of a doctor.

"It is worth thinking about; and it would be very nice if they could all
go together, with you to take care of them," said Mr Oswald. "Very
nice for our little girls, I mean. Think of it, and speak to your
mother."

"Thank you; I will," said Violet.

"Much they know about it," said she to herself, as she went up-stairs in
the dark. "An extra orange or a cup of strawberries for the little
darlings has to be considered in our house, and they speak of change as
coolly as possible. And I didn't know better than to trouble mamma with
just such foolish talk. We must try and have mamma and Polly go to
Gourlay for a week or two. June not half over, and how shall we ever
get through the two not months! Oh, dear! I am so tired!"

Violet was so tired in the morning that she slept late, and a good many
things had happened next morning before she came down-stairs. When she
opened the dining-room door she thought, for a minute, she must be
sleeping still and dreaming; for, instead of the usual decorous
breakfast-table, Aunt Livy seemed to be presiding at a large children's
party. Everybody laughed at her astonished face, and little Mary held
out her arms to be taken.

"My precious wee Polly! Have you got a pair of wings?" said she,
clasping and kissing her little sister.

"We are to stay all day, if we are good. You are to tell mamma how we
behave," said Jessie. "We came in a carriage, with Mr Philip and Jem."

Violet looked a little anxiously from Aunt Livy to Mr Oswald, and saw
nothing to