agreed with the expression, and always brought gladness and promise
of sympathy.

'See, mamma, what we have found for you.'

'Violets! The very purple ones that used to grow on the orchard
bank!'

'So they did. Mary knew exactly where to look for them,' said Mrs.
Frost, who had followed her up the steps.

'And there is Gervas,' continued Mary; 'so charmed to hear of you,
that we had almost brought him to see you.'

Mrs. Ponsonby declared herself so much invigorated by Ormersfield
air, that she would go to see her old friend the gardener. Mary
hurried to fetch her bonnet, and returned while a panegyric was going
on upon her abilities as maid-of-all-work, in her mother's
difficulties with male housemaids--black and brown--and washerwomen
who rode on horseback in white satin shoes. She looked as if it were
hardly natural that any one but herself should support her mother,
when Mrs. Frost tenderly drew Mrs. Ponsonby's arm into her own; and
it was indeed strange to see the younger lady so frail and broken,
and the elder so strong, vigorous, and active; as they moved along in
the sunshine, pausing to note each spring blossom that bordered the
gravel, and entered the walled kitchen-garden, where espaliers ran
parallel with the walks, dividing the vegetables from the narrow
flower-beds, illuminated by crocuses opening the depths of their
golden hearts to the sunbeams and the revelling bees. Old Gervas,
in a patriarchal red waistcoat, welcomed Mrs. Ponsonby with more