said that. Mamma told us that we ought never to chatter about his
concerns. Will you, please, not remember that I said it?'

As far as the outer world is concerned, I certainly will not,' said
John kindly. 'You cannot too early learn discretion. So that picture
is at Wrangerton?'

'I am so glad you liked it.'

'I liked it well enough to wish for a few spare hundreds, but it seems
to have afforded no more pleasure to him than it has given to me. I am
glad it is gone where there is some one who can appreciate it.'

'Oh, said Violet,' Matilda knows all about the best pictures. We
don't appreciate, you know, we only like.'

'And your chief liking is for that one?'

'It is more than liking,' said Violet; 'I could call it loving. It is
almost the same to me as Helvellyn. Annette and I went to the house
for one look more my last evening at home. I must tell her that you
have seen it!' and the springing steps grew so rapid, that her
companion had to say, 'Don't let me detain you, I am obliged to go
gently up-hill.' She checked her steps, abashed, and presently, with a
shy but very pretty action, held out her arm, saying timidly, 'Would it
help you to lean on me? I ought not to have brought you this steep
way. Matilda says I skurry like a school-girl.'

He saw it would console her to let her think herself of service and
accepted of the slender prop for the few steps that remained. He then