for she felt a sudden desire to join the

party.

Lord Norwich looked disappointed.

"I was in hopes you were going," he said. "I think I'll stay away now. Picnics are slow work, I think; the only picnic I ever enjoyed was when we drank tea in your glen, and a nightingale sang to us. I shall never forget it," and his smiling grey eyes sought the girl's face. "How do you amuse yourself, Miss Desmond? Don't you find it very slow at times?"

"Oh, I am never dull," returned Kathleen brightly, "I have so much to do at home. I house-keep, and sing, and garden, and make my dresses; but we are going to have a grand entertainment next week; a penny reading, and I am going to sing at it."

VOL. I.

E

"When is it to be, and may I come?"

inquired Lord Norwich eagerly.

"May you come ?" repeated Kathleen, clapping her hands softly. "You shall

come, and you shall sing; we want some help very much. The Wynnes are giving it; I will tell them."

"I should like it of all things," responded Lord Norwich heartily, “that is, if you think I can sing well enough."

"Oh, I am so glad!" cried the girl, the soft colour deepening in her cheeks. "How good you are to promise to help us,”—and Lord Norwich was rewarded by a bright glance from Kathleen's "eyes of most unholy blue." "And now I'll tell you all about it."

Lord Norwich listened, and having pro

mised to come the following day to practise a duet, took his leave of the girl in a lingering manner.

"Parting is such sweet sorrow,

That I shall say good-night till it be morrow."

As soon as he had disappeared from sight, Kathleen put on her hat and walked over to the rectory, where she found Bertha seated at a table with account-books spread out before her.

"If you will sit down, Kathleen, for a moment; I am doing up the accounts of the Penny Club, but they are nearly finished."

Kathleen nodded, and then began to wander restlessly round the prim sittingroom, where chairs, in holland covers, were arranged against the wall in a symmetrical circle, as if intended for ornament, not use.

Miss Wynne sighed once or twice, as if Kathleen's restless movements interfered with her calculations, and at length closed her books and rose from her seat.

"Oh, Bertha, I have come to tell you

I have enlisted a new recruit for the penny

reading."

"Who?" asked Miss Wynne.

66

Dermot," said Kathleen gravely. "He is going to sing a duet with me, and a solo by himself."

"Who is Dermot?" returned Miss Wynne, in a matter-of-fact tone.

"Dermot Astore," laughed Kathleen, "otherwise Lord Norwich. He sings very well, and I expect the gratitude of the public for having procured such a star.”

"But I don't know Lord Norwich, and I don't think mamma would approve ofof- How did it happen that your father asked him?"

"I asked him," said Kathleen, with a little defiance in her tone; "why should Mrs Wynne object? I think "—with a

little angry colour coming into her cheeksyou ought to be very much obliged to him for taking so much trouble.”

"I will ask mamma," said Bertha, in rather distressed accents, "what she thinks about it, but it seems to me-I mean it is awkward having strangers amongst us."

"Oh, if that is all, I will introduce him to you," said Kathleen shortly. "And now I must go home, it is getting dusk."

The next few days slipped away pleasantly to Kathleen, Lord Norwich's visits being of daily occurrence, upon the plea of practising his part. He was not quite sure of it, he would say. Might he come the next day for another practice? And Kathleen would give a cordial consent, for were not these golden hours to her, that only sped away too swiftly, as time ever does when we are happy.