c will buy shares. They will buy shares as fast as ever they
can."

"What are shares?" asked Sibyl.

"It is difficult to explain. Shares mean a little bit of the gold out
of the mine, and these people will buy them in order to become rich."

"It's very puzzling," said Sibyl. "And it depends on father?"

"Yes, because if he says there is not much gold in the mine, then no
one will buy shares. Don't you understand, it all depends on him."

"It's _very_ puzzling," said Sibyl again. "Are you going to buy
shares, Mr. Rochester?"

"I think so," he answered earnestly. "I shall buy several shares, I
think, and if I do I shall be rich enough to ask Lady Helen to marry
me."

"And you will be happy?"

"Very happy if she says 'yes.' But, Sibyl, this is a great secret
between you and me, you must never tell it to anyone else."

"You may trust me," said Sibyl, "I never tell things I'm told not to
tell. You can't think what wonderful 'portant things father has told
me, and I never, never speak of them again. Then you'll be glad to be
rich?"

"Yes, because I shall be happy if Lady Helen is my wife," he answered,
and just then Mrs. Ogilvie came into the room.

Sibyl and Miss Winstead went out for their daily exercise. Sibyl had
already ridden the pony in the morning. It was a nameless pony.
Nothing would induce her to give it a title.

"When father comes back he'll christen my pony," she said, "but no one
else shall. I won't give it no name till he comes back."

She enjoyed her rides on the brisk little pony's back. She was rapidly
becoming a good horsewoman. When her mother did not accompany her the
redoubtable Watson followed his little mistress, and the exercise did
the child good, and helped to bring a faint color to her cheeks.

Now she and Miss Winstead walked slowly down the shady side of the
street. Sibyl was pondering over many things.

"It is very hot this morning," said the governess.

"Oh, that don't matter," replied Sibyl. "Miss Winstead, is your head
sometimes so full that it seems as if it would burst?"

"No," answered Miss Winstead, "I cannot say it is."

"Full of thoughts, you know."

"No," replied the governess again. "Don't turn in your toes, Sibyl,
walk straight, turn your toes out a little, so; keep step with me.
Little ladies ought to walk properly."

Sibyl took great pains to follow Miss Winstead's instructions. She was
always taking great pains now. A wonderful lot of her naughtiness and