e
high beyond that again, and showed over the low roof of the little
station, and if the hills happened to be covered with mist, why, there was
the park itself to look at.

On that March morning when, just as Audrey and her granny sat down to
breakfast, Mr. Carlyle's letter came, the park was quite gay with people,
even though it was early, for, after a long spell of wet weather, the sun
was shining quite warmly, and everyone was glad to be out of doors again.

Audrey thought it all looked more beautiful than ever that morning.
If she could have done just as she liked, she would have gone out there
herself, taking a book with her to read. But she knew that her
grandmother would not allow that, so she did not let herself dwell on it.

"Isn't it lovely!" she remarked again enthusiastically. She had said
exactly the same thing three times already without receiving any reply,
but this time she noticed it, and, withdrawing her eyes from the
fascinating scene without, looked instead at her granny for an
explanation. Apparently there was no reason why Mrs. Carlyle should not
have answered. She was only turning over the lumps of sugar in the
sugar-basin, trying to find a small one, yet Audrey felt certain that
there was something unusual in the air, that something out of the common
had happened, and something not very pleasant either. Granny looked grave
and troubled, and at the same time annoyed. However, there was nothing
for Audrey to do but to go on with her breakfast, for she knew that her
grandmother did not like to be questioned, and, after all, it might only
be that the laundress had torn a sheet, or that the boot-boy had been rude
to the cook. Granny was always greatly upset if people did not do their
duty.

It was not until they had nearly finished breakfast that Audrey knew what
was really the matter.

"I have had a letter this morning from your father, Audrey."

"Oh," said Audrey, absently, "have you, granny?" She was not deeply
interested, and at that moment one of her schoolfellows went by with a new
hat on, a light blue one, with a white 'bottle-brush' bobbing about on it,
and she found that much more absorbing. "How is mother?" she asked, when
the 'bottle-brush' had bobbed out of sight.

"Don't be staring out of window, child, while I am talking to you.
I want your undivided attention."

Audrey coloured, and looked not too well pleased, but she only said,
"I did not know you wanted me."

"Wel