, although Mr. Sefton suggested that I
should go out with him for an hour, I could see that they did
not second it.

"Now, darling, I have told you everything, and I think you will
own that I am having a good time. I hope all this pleasure is
not spoiling me, but I think of you all as much as ever, and
especially of my Hatty. Are you very dull without me, dear? And
how do you sleep? Write and tell me everything--how mother
looks, and what Tom said in his last letter, and if father is
busy. And if any of you want me very badly, you must say so, and
I will come home at once, though I do want some more rides, and
Edna has promised to drive me over to Kimberley again. But there
is the gong, and I must run down to breakfast. Good-bye, my
dearest Hatty.

"Your loving
"BESSIE."

Bessie had written out of the fullness of her girlish content. She
wanted to share her pleasure with Hatty. Happiness did not make her
selfish, nor did new scenes and varied experiences shut out home
memories, for Bessie was not one of those feeble natures who are carried
out of themselves by every change of circumstances, neither had she the
chameleon-like character that develops new tendencies under new
influences; at The Grange she was just the same simple, kindly Bessie
Lambert as she had been at Cliffe.

After all, she was not disappointed of her ride. Jennings, the groom,
had a commission to do at Leigh, and Richard proposed to his stepmother
that Bessie should ride over there too. Jennings was an old servant, and
very trusty and reliable, and she might be safely put in his charge. To
this Mrs. Sefton made no objection, and Bessie had a delightful morning,
and made good progress under Jennings' respectful hints. Bessie had just
taken off her habit, and was preparing for luncheon, when Edna entered
the room.

"What dress are you going to wear this afternoon, Bessie?" she asked
rather abruptly, and her manner was a little off-hand. "I shall be in
white, of course, and I shall wear my gray dust cloak for the roads,
but----"

"What dress!" returned Bessie, rather puzzled at the question; she was
hot and tired from her long ride, and had been looking forward to an
afternoon of delicious idleness. "Is any one coming? I mean, are we
going anywhere?"

"Why, of course," replied Edna impatiently, and she did not seem in the
best of tempers; "it is Thursday, is it not? and we