art came driving up" To face page 40

"It snapped, and he was gone" " 130

"Dick shook her by the hand" " 144

THE HEIRESS OF WYVERN COURT.

CHAPTER I.

IN THE RAILWAY CARRIAGE--NEW FRIENDS.

"Well, little friend, and where do you hail from?"

The speaker was a merry-faced, brown-eyed boy of eleven, with curly
brown hair--just the school-boy all over.

He had leaped into a railway carriage with cricket-bat, fishing-rod, and
a knowing-looking little hamper, which he deposited on the seat beside
him; then away went the snorting steam horse, train, people, and all,
and out came this abrupt question. "Little friend" was a mite of a girl
of nine, dressed in a homely blue serge frock and jacket, with blue
velvet hat to match: a shy little midge of a grey-eyed maiden, with
sunny brown curls twining about her forehead and rippling down upon her
shoulders, nestling in one corner of the carriage--the sole occupant
thereof until this merry questioner came to keep her company.

"I don't quite know what you mean," was the little girl's reply--a
sweet, refined way of speaking had she, and her eyes sparkled with shy
merriment, although there was a startled look in them too.

"Well, where do you come from, my dear mademoiselle?" and now the merry
speaker made a courtly bow.

"From London--but I'm not French, you know," was the retort, with the
demurest of demure smiles.

"No--just so; and where are you going?" One could but answer him, his
questions came with such winning grace of manner.

"To Cherton--to uncle--to Mr. Jonathan Willett's."

"Cherton! why, that's not far from my happy destination. I get out only
one station before you."

"Little friend" smiled her demure little smile again, as if she was glad
to hear it.

"So you're going to Mr. Willett's--Dr. Willett he's generally called,
being a physician," continued the boy, after glancing from the window a
second or two, as if to note how fast the landscape was rushing past the
train, or the train past the landscape.

"Yes; do you know him?" inquired the silvery tongue of the other.

"Oh yes; I know him!"--a short assent, comically spoken.

"I don't," sighed the little girl, as if the thought oppressed her.

"Then you'd like to know what he's like," spoke the boy, using the word
like twice for want of another.

"Yes--only--only would it be nice