THE NORTIICROFT LILIES.

 had a long string of objections to all Nancy's efforts
 to comfort her.
 "It might be worse, miss. There's freedom and
 the wide sky instead of chimneys, and I've heard
 grandmother say that, when she lived down in Essex,
 they found lovely forget-me-nots in the marshes;
 besides, it'll do your papa good, Miss Gertrude, think
 of that!"
 "Yes, Nancy, I know, but how would you like to
 have nothing but fields before you, as flat as a pan-
 cake, and no hills or anything nice ? Why, in Devon-
 shire, the myrtles grow round the house, and the rocks
 are so grand."
 I should be glad to see green fields at all, Miss
 Gertrude," said Nancy. "I don't think I should
 mind their being flat. But it's God's will, and He
 knows best."
 There was a look of mingled pain and submission
 on Nancy's face, which touched Gertrude, and checked
 her selfish grumblings, and she spoilt no more of her
 farewell visit by them.
 The next morning the whole family left King's
 Cross. Mr. Layton had just returned from a stay of
 three days at Northcroft, and as they went along he
 assured Gertrude that Lincolnshire was by no means
 all fen. But the little girl of twelve was not convinced,
 and thought it was papa's habit of looking on the
 bright side, which blinded his eyes. When the train
 stopped at Peterborough, they had just time to look
 into the cathedral and out again and walk round it.
 The busy tongues grew more silent as the train
 went on.
 Look, Gertrude there are your sweet fens," said
Effie, as they passed Deeping; "the Geography was
right after all."