honour." Bessie smiled, and her eye lighted up. "And see the colour
against the sky--look at the contrast of that bright light green with
the blue, so very deep, of the sky--and oh! see that train of little
clouds, red with soft sunny light, like a little soft flock of rosy
lambs, if there were such things, lying across the sky. O Bessie! you
can't talk of wanting the sight of pretty things while you have that
sky."

Bessie was coming closer to her, when in burst Sam and Johnnie.

"Hello, Bess! moping here, I declare! I suppose you and Miss
Fosbrook are telling each other all your secrets."

"I was just coming out," said Miss Fosbrook. "I want to make out
something about those noble flowers of the horse-chestnut, and why
they don't look whiter. Could you gather one for me, Sam?"

Sam was only too glad of an excuse for climbing a tree, however
cheaply he might hold one who cared for flowers; and by the time
Bessie had put on her lilac-spotted sun-bonnet--a shapeless article
it must be confessed, with a huge curtain serving for a tippet, very
comfortable, and no trouble at all--he had scrambled into the fork,
and brought down a beautiful spire of blossoms, with all the grand
leaves hanging round in their magnificent fans.

"What will you do with it?" said the children, standing round.

"Do you think you could ask Mary to spare us a jug, Susan? If I
might put it in water in the schoolroom fireplace, it would look
fresh and cheerful for Sunday."