SCHOOL DAYS AT ST. MARY'S.

 muddle look; you don't understand," and she began
 to explain it.
 "Oh, but I shall never understand it, Lydia; just
do that for me. Dr. Mellor will never know."
 "I don't think I ought," said Lydia, who was re-
markably good-natured, and always ready to help the
others when they asked her; which in nine cases out of
ten ended by her doing the lesson for them. Now
she hesitated. It would not be right," she said.
 "Nonsense, Lydia; oh, do help me. Dr. Mellor
will be furious; I really can't do it."
 "I will show you, if you like, Constance."
 "That won't do; well, you are unkind;" and
Lydia was still colouring at the reproach when Mrs.
Palmer returned.
 At noon the girls went for a walk with Mademoiselle
and Miss Wilmot. St. Mary's was a small town close
by the seaside, but the inland walks were very lovely.
To-day, however, there was a general petition for the
cliff, and as it was a mild day in March, with little wind,
there was no objection, and they all went.
 The cliff was very high and dangerous, but the
path on the top was broad and safe, and Miss Wilmot
rejoiced to see that Julia was in a quieter mood than
usual, and consequently she and Mademoiselle had
fewer frights than was ordinarily the case on this
particular walk, for Julia delighted to keep at the very
Edge of the precipice, just near enough for a false step
to be much feared, and yet strictly on the beaten
track. It was a pleasant day, and several ships were
sailing on the beautiful smiling channel, some so far off
that they looked like grey moths in the distance.
Mademoiselle was an agreeable companion, and the
two ladies chatted comfortably together, school worries
quite forgotten for the time. Presently Julia turned