boy, he has not his brother's high spirits, and I hope we shall keep
him at home longer.'

'Horace is certainly very young for a school-boy,' said Lady Merton;
'Rupert was ten years old when he went to Sandleford, but Sir Edward
afterwards regretted that he had not gone there earlier, and the
little boys are very well taken care of there.'

'Yes, Mr. Woodbourne said everything looked very comfortable,' said
Mrs. Woodbourne, sighing; 'and I suppose he must rough it some time
or other, poor little fellow, so that it may be as well to begin
early.'

'And he has taken a good place,' said Lady Merton; 'Lizzie wrote in
high glee to tell Anne of it.'

'Yes,' said Mrs. Woodbourne, 'she had brought him on wonderfully; I
am sure I wonder how she could, with only a little occasional
assistance from her papa; but then, Horace is certainly a very clever
child, and few have Lizzie's spirits and patience, to be able to bear
with a little boy's idleness and inattention so good-humouredly. And
I do believe she enjoyed playing with him and the others as much as
the children themselves; I used to say it was no use to send Lizzie
to keep the children in order, she only promoted the fun and noise.'

'She is a merry creature,' said Lady Morton, 'her spirits never seem
to flag, and I think she is looking stronger than when I saw her
last.'

'Indeed, I am very glad to hear you say so,' said Mrs. Woodbourne;