wall of the Vicarage garden; there was a wide gravel path all round
the court, and here tables were spread, around which were to be seen
the merry faces of all the children of the two schools--the boys, a
uniform rank arrayed in King Edward's blue coats and yellow
stockings, with but a small proportion of modern-looking youths in
brown or blue, and deep white collars--the girls, a long party-
coloured line, only resembling each other in the white tippets, which
had lately encumbered Elizabeth's room.

Much activity was called for, from all who chose to take part in
supplying the children; the young ladies' baskets of buns were
rapidly emptied, and Mr. Somerville's great pitcher of tea frequently
drained, although he pretended to be very exclusive, and offer his
services to none but the children of St. Austin's, to whom Winifred
introduced him. The rest of the company walked round the cloisters,
which were covered with dark red roses and honeysuckles, talking to
the old people, admiring their flowers, especially Mr. Dillon's
dahlias, and watching the troop of children, who looked like a living
flower-bed.

Mrs. Hazleby chanced to be standing near Mrs. Bouverie, a lady who
lived at some distance from Abbeychurch, and who was going to stay
and dine at the Vicarage. She was tolerably well acquainted with Mr.
Woodbourne, but she had not seen the girls since they were quite
young children, and now, remarking Elizabeth, she asked Mrs. Hazleby
if she was one of Mr. Woodbourne's daughters.

'Oh yes,' said Mrs. Hazleby, 'the eldest of them.'

'She has a remarkably fine countenance,' said Mrs. Bouverie.