THE NORTHOROFT LTLIES.

day, when the birches were drooping in golden glory
by the sides of the wood paths, and soft breezes
rustled the leaves as the Layton party strolled through
the woods; when the bracken had grown high and
brown and the heath was losing its purple bloom as
the frosty nights came on. Oh, the fun and the
laughter, the torn dresses, and stained fingers and
lips, all telling such a tale of enjoyment, that Mr.
Layton was fain to say he would go with them next
time, which he did, and to all appearance was as happy
as the young ones, and much more useful, Gertrude
said; for he was so tall he could hook down the strag-
gling bushes which otherwise, with their ripe clusters,
would have been quite unattainable. Then the mush-
room expeditions in the early mornings, when the dew
lay thick on the grass, and the sun had scarcely risen
above the eastern woods. Mary grew strong in the
midst of such, healthy excitement, and when she had
been there a fortnight, one sunny morning, Mr. Lay-
ton said, if she and Effie would get ready by ten o'clock,
he and Mrs. Layton would take them to Lincoln.
 Poor little Gertrude! and was she not to go ?
She did not know that what we wish for very much is
often withheld because there is a better thing in store
for us, to come, perhaps, by and by, and she was
sadly disappointed; but she kept out of sight all signs
of sorrow, and when mamma told her she trusted her
with the care of the little ones, how important she
felt There was a pleasure going on at home to-day;
the apples were to be gathered, and that afforded
plenty of amusement as long as it lasted; and then
she took Lottie and Bertie to see her favourite old
woman in the village, and only just reached home in
time for the nursery tea. Then, when eight o'clock
came, Lottie went to bed, and she had just taken up