oyd's mill.'

'Well, I sha'n't be there at twelve o'clock, so if that's what you want
to go for you'd better stay at home,' observed her brother, who evidently
was not very anxious to take his sister with him this particular morning,
though, as a rule, he was a most good-natured and attentive brother.

Sarah was quick to notice this, and being the girl she was it made her
all the more determined to go with her brother; so she said, 'Ah, but I
can go to see Uncle Howroyd, and that's always nice. I simply love going
over the mill.'

'Oh!' ejaculated George, looking discomfited for a moment; and then he
apparently changed his mind, and said, 'All right, I'll go there with
you.'

But when they got to the door of Mr William Howroyd's office he did not
say good-bye, but was coming in with her, when Sarah said, 'You needn't
stop for me. I may be here some time. You had better go and do your own
business, and come and fetch me on your way back.'

'I think I'll come in,' said George, and in he came.

'Uncle Howroyd, do send George off, and say you'll take care of me for an
hour or so; he's so dreadfully polite even to his sister that he won't
leave me alone with you,' said Sarah.

'Ah, but I don't know that I can take care of such a difficult young
lady,' said her uncle teasingly.

'But I should like to see Uncle Howroyd, too,' objected George.

'That's nonsense! You've only come here to bring me, so if you want to
see him you can come another time by yourself, not just when I'm here,'
said Sarah.

'I thought you wanted to see the mill?' observed George.

'And I thought you came to Ousebank to do some business?' retorted his
sister.

'So I did.--As a matter of fact, my business was to see you, sir,' said
George, turning to his uncle, who had been listening to this argument
between the brother and sister with his usual amused look and twinkle in
his eye.

But when his nephew made this direct appeal to him, Uncle Howroyd became
the alert man of business, kind and keen, and said, 'At your service,
nephew.--As for you, Sarah, if your frock isn't too fine for going into a
dirty blanket-mill, old Matthew will take you and show you our wonderful
new engine, of which we are so proud.'

'I don't care twopence about your grand engine. I hate grand new things.
I'd rather go into the old dyeing-rooms; they have such lovely new shades
every time I go,' declared Sarah.

'There! isn't that just like a woman? Hates new things