s such nice stories in it."

Major Lovell gave a long, low whistle.

"Ah!" he said, shaking his head comically at the little figure walking
by his side, "I'm very much afraid you may be at the bottom of it all.
Do you read the Bible to your uncle? Do you tell him that he has been
wasting his life and not fulfilling the end for which he was created, in
fact, that he is a wicked sinner? For that has been the substance of
his talk with me this morning!"

"Uncle Edward is a very good man," Milly replied, warmly. "I don't know
what you mean, Major Lovell; don't you read the Bible?"

"What will you think of me if I tell you I don't?"

"Perhaps you know it all by heart? I expect that is why."

"I rather think I don't. You must not begin to catechise me too
severely. Who has brought you up in this pious fashion?"

"I'm not pious. You said they were horrid people. But I thought all the
grown-up people read the Bible, except people like Jack."

"Who is Jack?"

"He was a prodigal son, one of God's prodigal sons."

"And what are they, may I ask?"

Milly did not answer for a minute, then she stopped short, and said very
solemnly, raising her large dark eyes to the major's face,--

"I wonder if you're a prodigal son. Uncle Edward said there were some
rich ones. Have you run away from God, Major Lovell?"

"Oh, come now," said the major, pinching her cheek good-naturedly; "I
didn't bargain for this when I came out with you. You must keep your
sermons for some one else. Come along to the stables with me, and I will
give you a ride."

In an instant Milly's gravity disappeared, and a little time afterwards
she was laughing gleefully as she was being trotted round the
stable-yard on a large bay mare; but she said to her nurse when she came
in,--

"Major Lovell is very nice, but very funny, and I can't always
understand his talk, he says such difficult things."

CHAPTER VIII.

"HE AROSE AND CAME TO HIS FATHER."

Major Lovell stayed a week, and Sir Edward seemed the better for his
company, as far as his bodily health was concerned. But at heart he was
very wretched, and his cousin's influence was not the sort to help him.

"Now, old chap, make haste and get well, and don't moon over yourself
and your feelings. And come down to our place for Christmas, won't you?
You're getting quite in the blues by being so much alone."

These were Major Lovell's parting words, and Sir Edward responded,--

"No, thanks; I pre