DISMAL REFLECTIONS. 123

if she were taller, while he is stooping his
handsome head and talking to her as if he
did not find it the least trouble in the
world.

Heigh, ho! I groan to myself as I lose sight
of them, I do hope that man won’t want to
marry Tiny and take her away. Whatever
should we do without her?—in fact, the bare
idea of losing any of my sisters is terrible
to me, but Tiny more than all, and I
stand buried in reflections which are not of
the liveliest, until I am startled by a voice
saying, “Come, Madge, are you going to
stand there dreaming by yourself all the
afternoon?”

I turn quickly, and heaving a deep sigh
follow Father and the man who is with him
down the centre walk. When we reach the
end of this we come upon a miniature fairy-
land, or more minutely speaking, a large
portion of the ground over which is stretched
a white awning. To get out of the fearful
glare of the sun is an immense relief, and
the subdued light and the sweet scent of