"So I divined. I think he would get home more quickly if I took one of
his hands and you took the other, and we hurried him up the hill; don't
you think so?"

He had no interest at all in Jack, but he wanted to talk with this
dark-eyed violin-playing damsel. Sydney had indulged in a good deal of
flirtation in his time, and he had no objection to whiling away an hour
in the company of any pretty girl; and yet there was some sort of
dignity about this girl's manner which warned him to be a little upon
his guard.

"You are member for Vanebury," she said, rather abruptly, when they had
dragged little Jack some distance up the grassy slope.

"I have that honor."

"I hope," she said, with a mixture of gentleness and decision which took
him by surprise, "that you mean to pay some attention to the condition
of the working-classes in Vanebury?"

"Well, I don't know; is there any special reason?"

"They are badly paid, badly housed, over-worked and under-educated," she
said, succinctly; "and if the member for Vanebury would bestir himself
in their cause, I think that something might be done."

"Even a member is not omnipotent, I'm afraid."

"No, but he has influence. You are bound to use it for good," she
returned.

Sydney raised his eyebrows. He was not used to being lectured on his
duties, and this young lady's remarks struck him as slightly
impertinent. He glanced at her almost as if he would have told her so;
but she looked so very pretty and so very young that he could no more
check her than he could have checked a child.

"You have very pretty scenery about here," he said, by way of changing
the conversation.

The girl's face drooped at once; she did not answer.

"What an odd young woman she is," said Sydney to himself. "What an odd
governess for the children!"

Suddenly she looked up, with a very sweet bright look. "I am afraid I
offended you," she said, deprecatingly. "I did not mean to say anything
wrong. I am so much interested in the Vanebury working people, although
we are here some miles distant from them, that when I heard you were
coming I made up my mind at once that I would speak to you."

"You have--friends, perhaps, in that district?" said Sydney.

"N--no--not exactly," she said, hesitating. "But I know a good deal
about Vanebury."

"Nan goes there very often, don't you, Nan?" said little Jack, suddenly
interposing. "And papa says you do more harm than good."

"Nan" colored high. "You