His cold, searching look brought the blood to my cheeks, and I returned the impertinent scrutiny with a glance of defiance.
"He rose; nodded meaningly to Dinah, bowed slightly to me, and left the cottage.
"The next minute Alice was in my arms.
"'Brother! dear, darling brother! welcome, welcome a thousand times.' "Oh, what a contrast to the dark, joyless countenance of Dinah North, was the cherub face of Alice--laughing in the irresistible glee of her young heart.

I forgot my long, tiresome journey, dust, heat, and hunger, as I pulled her on my knee, and covered her rosy cheeks with kisses.
"'What news since I left, Alice ?' "'Sad news, Philip.

Dear Madge is in London on a visit to her aunt; and there is a dull, cross boy staying at the Hall, with a very hard name--Theophilus Moncton--Margaret's cousin.

But he is nothing like her, though he calls her his little wife.

But Madge says that she will never have him, though his father is very rich.' "'I am sure _you will_ hate him, Philip, for he calls us beggar's brats, and wonders that Sir Alexander suffers his daughter to play with us.