n-parties before croquet came in.'

'How dreadful, Ursula! Your name's Ursula, isn't it? Haven't you some
jolly little name to go by?'

'Nuttie.'

'Nuttie! That's scrumptious! I'll call you Nuttie, and you may call
me Pussycat.'

'That's not so nice as Blanche.'

'Mother won't have me called so when strangers are there, but you
aren't a stranger, you know. You must tell me all about yourself, and
how you came never to learn tennis!'

'I had something else to do,' said Nuttie, with dignity.

'Oh, you were in the schoolroom! I forgot. Poor little Nuts!'

'At school,' said Ursula.

'Ah, I remember! But you're out now, aren't you? I've been out since
this spring. Mother won't let us come out till we are eighteen, isn't
it horrid? And we were so worked there! I can tell you a finishing
governess is an awful institution! Poor little Rosie and Adey will be
in for one by and by. At present they've only got a jolly little
Fraulein that they can do anything they please with.'

'Oh, I wonder if she would tell me of some German books!'

'You don't mean that you want to read German!' and Blanche stood still,
and looked at her cousin in astonishment.

'Why, what else is the use of learning it?'

'Oh, I don't know. Every one does. If one went abroad or to court,
you know,' said Blanche vaguely; but Ursula had now a fresh subject of
interest; for, on emerging from the shrubbery, they came in sight of a
picturesque but not very architectural church, which had the smallest
proportion of wall and the largest of roof, and a pretty oriel-windowed
schoolhouse covered with clematis. Nuttie rushed into inquiries about
services and schools, and was aghast at hearing of mere Sundays and
saints' days.

'Oh no! father isn't a bit Ritualistic. I wish he was, it would be so
much prettier; and then he always advertises for curates of moderate
views, and they are so stupid. You never saw such a stick as we have
got now, Mr. Edwards; and his wife isn't a lady, I'm sure.'

Then as to schools, it was an absolute amazement to Nuttie to find that
the same plans were in force as had prevailed when her uncle had come
to the living and built that pretty house--nay, were kept up at his
sole expense, because he liked old-fashioned simplicity, and did not
choose to be worried with Government inspection.

'And,' said Blanche, 'every one says our girls work ever so much
better, and make nicer servants than those that are cram