"Take care," said Betty. "You must make haste, or I shall leave you
to it."




CHAPTER III. AMONG THE COWSLIPS.


The insect youth are on the wing,
Eager to taste the honeyed spring,
And float amid the liquid noon,
Some lightly on the torrent skim,
Some show their gaily gilded trim,
Quick glancing to the sun.--GRAY


Though hours were early, the morning meal was not served till so late
as really to deserve the title of breakfast.

When the three sisters sat down at nine-o'clock, in mob caps, and the
two younger in white dresses, all had been up at least two hours.
Aurelia led forward little Eugene in a tailed red coat, long-breasted
buff waistcoat, buff tights and knitted stockings, with a deep frilled
collar under the flowing locks on his shoulders, in curls which
emulated a wig. She had been helping him to prepare "his tasks" from
the well-thumbed but strongly-bound books which had served poor Archie
before him. They were deposited on the window-seat to wait till the
bowls of bread and milk were discussed, since tea and coffee were only