an opportunity occurred for her to obtain what she had long
secretly coveted, a chance to improve herself, in some branches of
study, under better masters than Singleton could afford. She passed the
greater part of the year as pupil-teacher in a superior school in M--,
and returned home in the end of June. The year was of great advantage
to her in many ways, though the children at home could not see it. She
"was just the same as ever," they said, which was a high compliment,
though not intended as such.

She had not changed, but she had made advances in several directions her
mother was pleased to discover. Her return was a great pleasure to her
brothers, but Jem was critical now and then, and spoke of "airs and
graces," and "fine manners," as though she were not quite innocent of
those on occasion. David was indignant, but Violet laughed at them
both, and proved that whatever change had come to her manners, none had
come to her temper, "which was a blessing," Jem acknowledged.

Mr Oswald's household was broken up about the time of Miss Bethia's
death. Selina remained with her sister, and the little girls went with
their aunt to her former home. Mr Oswald had been induced to take the
sea voyage, and the entire rest from business, which his physicians
declared absolutely necessary to his entire restoration to health.
Frank accompanied him to England, where they both remained during the
year. His health had improved, and there was some expectation that they
would return at the close of the summer.

His house had been sold, and was now used as a hospital for the poor and
sick of the town. The extensive grounds around it had been cut up by
the opening of several new streets in that direction, and one could
scarcely have recognised the place that used to be so beautiful in the
eyes of the Inglis children. However, the only Oswald left in Singleton
took the sale of the house, in which he had been born and brought up,
very philosophically. The opening of the new streets had increased the
value of the land immensely, and under the careful hands of Mr
Caldwell, that and all other property belonging to Mr Oswald was being
so disposed of that his creditors had a good prospect of losing nothing
by him.

Philip Oswald still asserted, that but for the faint-heartedness which
illness had brought upon his father, and the untimely pressure of the
creditors because of it, there needed have been no failure. He asserted
it