The last was one of her most pleasing enjoyments, for which Lady Douglas received many blessings.

From her childhood this noble lady had exercised her leisure moments in relieving the wants of the poor, often leaving to them food and clothing with her own hands.
At the suggestion of Miss Douglas, who was always ready for any important duty, a party was proposed to visit the woods to procure boughs for greening the grand hall and drawing-room.

Foremost was Johnnie Douglas, master of ceremonies, whose presence on the occasion was indispensable; so said Johnnie, throwing a mischievous glance at Lady Rosamond as a reminder of his services on a former expedition.

The rising color on his victim's face brought a reprimand from Mary Douglas.
"Don't be of such importance, Johnnie, there are plenty of gentlemen at our command." "Ha, ha, ha," roared the young gentleman in undisguised and unsuppressed fits of laughter.
"Miss Mary, don't be of too much importance; there may not be so many gentlemen at your command as you reckon on," said Johnnie, bent on following up his argument; "Mr.Howe is engaged, Mr.Trevelyan goes on parade this morning, Charles is away; now where are the reserves?
Answer--Fred, and your humble servant." "Well, Johnnie, you are holding your ground manfully," exclaimed Sir Howard, smiling as he passed through the group in the lower hall, where they still sat discussing the grounds of Johnnie's superiority.
Decision turning in favor of the champion, the party set off--boys, ladies, and children--forming a pretty sight.

Lady Douglas stood on the balcony waving approval and beaming with happy smiles.
The shouts of Master Johnnie, laughter of the ladies, and romping of the children, kept the woods busy in the constant repetition of echoes on every side.
"Oh, Lady Rosamond," cried the hero of the expedition, eager to maintain his position, "here is the brook, but where is the water to receive some one with another cooling reception, and where is Mr.Trevelyan with his gallant service and kind sympathy ?--Not hinting of the hasty retreat of your valuable pioneer!" Mary Douglas, detecting a shade passing over Lady Rosamond's brow, came to the rescue with another mild reprimand upon the incorrigible Johnnie.
"I am afraid, sir, that you take the opportunity of reminding Lady Rosamond of your former importance without due regard to her feelings, which, you are aware, is not very gentlemanly." "If your ladyship is offended," said the mischievous but generous and manly Johnnie, turning to Lady Rosamond, "I beg your pardon in the most humble manner, feeling deeply sorry." "Lady Rosamond you really do not think I would consciously give you annoyance," said master Johnnie, throwing down the bough which he had lopped from a tree near, and drawing up his boyish form with true dignity and an amusing earnestness in his tone.
"Of course not, Johnnie," returned her ladyship, "you and I are on the best of terms.