THE NO.THCROFT LILIES.

 "Thank you, dear mamma."
 "And I will lend you James to take them to West-
 croft."
 There's a dear, good papa !" and Lottie clapped
 her little fat hands.
 Stay! it is no great goodness, Gertrude; James
 was going with the cart to Westcroft, so it is just
 right."
 "There will be the carriage to pay."
 Oh, yes, Effie, I know; but I've twelve and two-
 pence halfpenny, I want to do it."
 Then suppose you go at once," said Mrs. Layton;
 "ask cook to find all the baskets she can, and I will
 come to the woods too."
 Presently Gertrude rushed into the room again.
 "Mamma, oh, where's mamma ? Oh, there you are !"
 as she ran out again. Mamma, Jane says, if you
 don't mind, she'll do Betsy's work, and then the little
 ones and Betsy could go too with the perambulator;
 and Betsy wants to help, because she has seen Nancy
 at home."
 Mamma had no objection, so the party set out,
 with a warning hint from papa not to make too much
 noise and frighten the game.
 Gertrude and Lottie were at the entrance of the
wood long before Mrs. Layton and Effie came up, and
were consequently rather impatient; but, once within
the gate, off they ran, leaving the rest to follow; and
by the time the perambulator and Mrs. Layton reached
them they had already gathered a good many lilies.
 Mrs, Layton was tired, and sat down by the baby,
and little Bertie ran after Betsy. It was a beautiful
day; the soft air was full of fragrance, and scarcely
stirred the birches' drooping leaves, and the sun shone
joyously on the bright green larches and their pink
 03