Year: 1875

Of course the London season has its
pleasures, and it is very nice to see
the continent; but I am always ex-
tremely glad when October comes and
we return home to Hetherington Hall,
for the Hall is home to me, and Sir
Edward and Lady Hetherington are
father and mother, despite all legal
proofs which may be adduced to
show that am only their niece.


I don't think that there can be
a more delightful habitation under
the sun than a well-appointed country
house; and the Hall is perfect. I
always go all round the place the
morning after my arrival, however
bad the weather may be; and the
dogs bark welcome, and only show a
sense of their displeasure at the un-
kindness of deserting them for six
months by putting dirty paws on
ones dress; but they roll in the mud
to such an extent during their mani
festations of delight, that it's quite
impossible to pet them as much as
they deserve for being so friendly and
forgiving. Jack, the old pony I used
to ride when a little girl, comes can't
ering up to the side of his paddock
when he sees me; and though it may
be apples, I think it's affection. Of
course ones own horses have been do
ing duty in town, and are not quite
strangers; but they turn round and
"whinny," and seem very glad to see
their mistress and to have some ap-
pies, too, if Jacks artful demonstra-
tions of attachment have not made it
impossible to leave him without Civ
ing him all that the little basket con-
tained. The men about the place
seem really glad to greet you, and the
old women who reside in the neigh
boring cottages shower blessings
upon you to an extent that ought to
render you comfortable for the re-
mainder of your life, while the LODGE
keepers wife, with maternal pride,
produces her last new baby for your
inspection-there invariably happens
to have been a new one about three
weeks before our return to Hether-
ington.


Gentlemen seem to like coming
down to the Hall =; and, indeed, the
place is we'll supplied with those mag
nets which attract them. There is
excellent shooting, two packs OF
hounds frequently meet in the neigh
borhood, and Uncle Edward is popu-
lar with every one. Perhaps it may
be that the Meadshire air is 80 good;
and that there is a cha]ybeate spring
within eight miles ofus, or perhaps it
maybe in some slight measure attrib:
uted to the presence Of a pleasant
set Of men ). but there is always q
considerable number of girls who are
pleased to except Lady Hethering-
TOMS kind invitation" and help me
to entertain the party.


Uncle Edward was q soldier ; in
deed the first definite recollection I
have is Of seeing him at the head of
his regiment in glittering array-he
was a Hussar-and looking as gallant
a gentleman as any of the originals Of
the portraits which hang in the pict-
ure-gallery; and that is the highest
praise I can give, for the old Hether-
ingtons are the things I admire
most on earth. I sit for hours and
gaze at my special favorite, Sir Har-
ry, who was killed at Naseby, and l
feel assured that he went down to his
death and looked on Cromwelra =
troopers with the same frank insouci.
ant smile with which he now looks


down on me; just as 1 know my own


Guy would 60 and fight if need were


and if ever there was a Likeness. in
this world between 'person living


now and a person who lived in


the year when the battle of Naseby
was fought-for I am afraid I DOM
quite remember when it was-that


likeness is between Guy Wrey and


Sir Harry Hetherington. 1 wonde,


whether Sir Harry's heart was Who'll,
| when he rode off to fight for his king


I don't think that those bright eye
| of his would have looked in vain 70,


love if girls hearts then were lik'
they are now, or that the handsom,
face was of the sort to meet refusal
All! as I look the tears come to nj,


eyes to think that he, and so man,


greatrhearted gentlemen like him


should have been sent out of thi


world, which was so pleasant to them


by trutorous, rebellious villains an