CHAPTER VI.

THE WATER-SOLDIER.

'Presumptuous maid, with looks intent, Again she stretched, again she bent, Nor knew the gulf between.'--GRAY.

It all seemed like a dream to Ursula, perhaps likewise to her mother, when they rose to the routine of daily life with the ordinary interests of the day before them. There was a latent unwillingness in Mrs. Egremont's mind to discuss the subject with either aunt or daughter; and when the post brought no letter, Ursula, after a moment's sense of flatness, was relieved, and returned to her eager desire to hurry after the water-soldier. It was feasible that very afternoon. Mary Nugent came in with the intelligence.

'And can Gerard come? or we shall only look at it.'

'Yes, Gerard can come, and so will Mr. Dutton,' said Mary, who, standing about half-way between Mrs. Egremont and her daughter, did not think herself quite a sufficient chaperon.

'He will look on like a hen at her ducklings,' said Nuttie. 'It is cruel to take him, poor man!'

'Meantime, Nuttie, do you like an hour of "Marie Stuart?"'

'Oh, thank you!' But she whispered, 'Aunt Ursel, may I tell her?'

'Ask your mother, my dear.'

Leave was given, half reluctantly, and with a prohibition against mentioning the subject to any one else, but both mother and aunt had confidence in Mary Nugent's wisdom and discretion, so the two friends sat on the wall together, and Ursula poured out her heart. Poor little girl! she was greatly discomfited at the vanishing of her noble vision of the heroic self-devoted father, and ready on the other hand to believe him a villain, like Bertram Risingham, or 'the Pirate,' being possessed by this idea on account of his West Indian voyages. At any rate, she was determined not to be accepted or acknowledged without her mother, and was already rehearsing magnanimous letters of refusal.

Answer this series of questions:

1. did someone come in?
2. who?
3. with?
4. was she wise?
5. how do you know?
6. did she speak?
7. what did she say?
8. where was she when she spoke?
9. what roman numeral is shown?
10. did someone have a difficulty with their mind?
11. who?
1. Yes
2. Mary Nugent
3. with the intelligence.
4. yes
5. both mother and aunt had confidence in Mary Nugent's wisdom
6. Yes
7. 'Yes, Gerard can come, and so will Mr. Dutton,'
8. standing about half-way between Mrs. Egremont and her daughter
9. VI
10. Yes
11. Mrs. Egremont