THE CINDERELLA FROCK. 35

their gayety. Her father, it was found out,
was a City artist, who had come out into the
sweet rural district to sketch some particular
country scenes, and had chosen the old Hilton
house, and was living in it in that solitary
way, from some unaccountable fancy. He
loved its beautiful grounds and antique look,

and perhaps, dreaded intrusion. Nobody
_ knew, only it was found Alice and her father
had some charm to make the dreary old place
gay.

Why Alice had never been at school be-
fore, it was learned too (for leave school-girls
alone to find out every thing), was because
she had been her father’s only companion,
and he had taught her himself rather than
send her away ; but now, when he must
needs be among the hills, and by the brook-
sides so much, little Alice was sent to school
to find company.