ng, so that strangers took her to be several years younger
than she really was.

"This must be your model governess arriving, Aunt Emma," exclaimed Mrs.
Hamlyn, as the fly came up the drive.

"I hope it is," said Mrs. Carradyne; and they all looked out. "Oh, yes,
that's an Evesham fly--and a ramshackle thing it appears."

"I wonder you did not send the carriage to Evesham for her, mother,"
remarked Harry, picking up some of the ninepins which Miss Kate had
swept off the table with her hand.

Mrs. Hamlyn turned round in a blaze of anger. "Send the carriage to
Evesham for the governess! What absurd thing will you say next, Harry?"

The young man laughed in good humour. "Does it offend one of your
prejudices, Eliza?--a thousand pardons, then. But really, nonsense
apart, I can't see why the carriage should not have gone for her. We are
told she is a gentlewoman. Indeed, I suppose anyone else would not be
eligible, as she is to be made one of ourselves."

"And think of the nuisance it will be! Do be quiet, Harry! Kate ought to
have been sent to school."

"But your father would not have her sent, you know, Eliza," spoke Mrs.
Carradyne.

"Then--"

"Miss West, ma'am," interrupted Rimmer, the butler, showing in the
traveller.

"Dear me, how very young!" was Mrs. Carradyne's first thought. "And what
a lovely face!"

She came in shyly. In her whole appearance there was a shrinking, timid
gentleness, betokening refinement of feeling. A slender, lady-like girl,
in a plain, dark travelling suit and a black bonnet lined and tied with
pink, a little lace border shading her nut-brown hair. The bonnets in
those days set off a pretty face better than do these modern ones.
That's what the Squire tells us.

Mrs. Carradyne advanced and shook hands cordially; Eliza bent her head
slightly from where she stood; Harry Carradyne stood up, a pleasant
welcome in his blue eyes and in his voice, as he laughingly
congratulated her upon the ancient Evesham fly not having come to grief
en route. Kate Dancox pressed forward.

"Are you my new governess?"

The young lady smiled and said she believed so.

"Aunt Eliza hates governesses; so do I. Do you expect to make me obey
you?"

The governess blushed painfully; but took courage to say she hoped she
should. Harry Carradyne thought it the very loveliest blush he had ever
seen in all his travels, and she the sweetest-looking girl.

And when Captain Monk came in he quite took to her app