k, led
the way to the plot of ground the gardener had laid out for them. One
part of it was full of summer flowers, the other half she had left
uncultivated that Norman might have the pleasure of digging it up and
putting in seeds and plants.

"You have taken good care to make your own garden look pretty," he
observed, as he eyed her portion of the plot. "What am I to do with
that bare place?"

Fanny told him what her object had been, and offered to help him. She
had got several pots with nice plants, which there was still time to put
in, and a number of seeds of autumn flowers. These she promised to give
to him as soon as the ground was fit for their reception. She began
digging away in her usual energetic manner, and he for a time tried to
imitate her, but he soon grew tired.

"There, you can dig away by yourself," he said, "just as the natives do
in India in the plantations, and I will look on like an owner, and watch
that you do your work properly," and he leant back with his arms folded,
as he thought, in a very dignified way.

Fanny dug on for some time. At last she stopped and said, laughing--

"Now it is your turn to work, and mine to watch you."

"I do not want to dig," he answered, "I am going to be an officer like
papa, and have others to obey me."

Just then the gardener came by, and seeing Fanny digging away and making
herself very hot, promised her that in the evening he would put the
ground to rights. As she found that Norman was not disposed to garden,
she invited him to have a game of battledore and shuttlecock on the
lawn.

They had played for half-an-hour, and he seemed to be more amused than
he had been with anything else. While they were in the garden Mrs
Vallery had been unpacking her trunks, and wishing to show Fanny a dress
she had brought from Paris for her, called her in. Norman said he would
remain out and play by himself.

Some time was occupied in admiring the beautiful frock and in trying on
some boots and other things. How grateful did she feel to her mamma as
she kissed her again and again, and thanked her for bringing her so many
pretty things. Though she would have liked to have stopped and admired
them again and again, she did not forget Norman.

"I am afraid he will be growing dull by himself, mamma," she said, "I
will go out and try to amuse him. I see that he has gone away from the
lawn and has left the battledore on the grass."

Fanny, putting on her bonne