I am eighty-three now, and sair failed; but I was once twenty-three, and young and lusty as you be.

But life is at the fag end with me now.

God save us all!" Then, with a meaning look at the two pretty girls watching him, he went slowly off, droning out to a monotonous accompaniment, an old love ballad:-- "Picking of lilies the other day, Picking of lilies both fresh and gay, Picking of lilies, red, white, and blue, Little I thought what love could do." "'_Little I thought what love could do_,'" Julius repeated; and he sang the doleful refrain over and over, as they strolled back to the oak under which they had had their little feast.

Then Sophia, who had a natural love of neatness and order, began to collect the plates and napkins, and arrange them in the basket; and this being done, she looked around for the housemaid in order to put it in her charge.

The girl was at the other end of the field, and she went to her.
Charlotte had scarcely perceived what was going on.