"I should like to have the child with us," he said;

"she is my own brother's daughter, and I think has a claim on us as her nearest relations."

"I quite agree with you, Charles," was the wifely reply;

we have enough and to spare for our own, and one more will make very little difference."

Mr. Norton gave his wife a look that more than repaid her for agreeing to what she considered a christian duty; then he said,

"Edith has a little property, for which Mr. Arnold and myself are joint trustees, we need not touch that. So I will make arrangements to go to Norwich a day or two before the funeral, and bring the poor little orphan back with me. You must put off your visit to the Crystal Palace to-day, children," he continued, "till I return, and then your cousin can accompany you. I shall be too busy to leave the city to-day, and I cannot impose such a charge upon your mother."

"I'm sure if mamma will take care of Rosa, Arthur and me can take care of ourselves and Harry.”

“That's very likely, Miss Nelly, when you can't even take care of your grammar!" laughed the youngest boy.

Nelly flushed with mortification at a correction from her young brother, but Mrs. Norton stayed all reply by saying, "Don't talk nonsense, children; it would not be proper for us to go after the news we have received."

Seeing by the serious manner of their parents that they wished to have some private conversation, the children asked permission to leave the table. The two youngest, too lighthearted to think of death, or its consequences to an unknown cousin, were soon at high games in the garden; but Nelly and Arthur, older and more thoughtful, began to speculate upon the addition to their number, of which their parents had spoken.

"Do you remember aunt Lucy and Edith!" asked Arthur.

"Not much," she replied; "but I think Edith was a little thing with light hair, ever so much younger than me."

"She's only a year younger than you, and she was an awfully pretty little girl then; you used to look like a gipsy by her side."

Arthur knew that his sister's clear brunette complexion, dark eyes, and deep brown curls, made her quite as attractive as fairy Edith, with her blue eyes and golden ringlets; but he loved to chaff his sister to bring down, as he said, her conceit. Her tone of superiority in speaking of others was fuel to the fire, and he went on.

"She'll be a jolly companion for you, Nell; papa saw her twelve months ago, and he says she plays awfully well; how will you like that?”

"Oh, I shan't care; besides, papa isn't much of a judge; and if she does excel me in music, which I do not expect, she won't do so in drawing"

"I don't know that, for aunt Lucy was very clever and accomplished, and knew an awful lot of history and geography, and the ologies and all that, and she's been teaching Edith all her life. Oh, Nell, I expect Edith will cut you out, if she's a topper, like her mother was in learning."

"I wish you wouldn't talk such dreadful slang, Arthur; you know mamma does not like it," said his sister pettishly; “and as to Edith, how can a girl nearly a year younger than me, who has never had masters nor been to school, know more than I do?"

"Can't say, I'm sure; but it's not unlikely."

"Well, if Edith and her wonderful knowledge are to be thrown in my face in this way, I shall end by hating her." "Very amiable indeed, Miss Nelly: well, after that, I'll slope."

The week passed, and Arthur spared his sister any more "chaff,” for he had no wish to provoke her to give her cousin

an unkind reception. On the Wednesday Mr. Norton started for Norwich; the funeral of Mrs. Henry Norton was to take place on the next day. On Friday he wrote to his wife, telling her not to expect them till Monday, as there were many little matters of business to arrange, and the rector had invited them to stay at the rectory for the time he remained. Monday arrived at last, and the children in a state of excited expectatation, looked at the clock as if it never would strike five. Little Rosa's frequent questions, "Mamma, will cousin Edith soon be here now? I do want to see her so much;" so annoyed Eleanor that she betook herself to the drawing-room and sat down to the piano. At last Mrs. Norton said to Harry and Rosa,

"Go and stand at the window; you will be able to hear the sound of the cab wheels."

"And see it too, mamma," said Harry, "if we stand sideways."

But standing "sideways," for fifteen or twenty minutes, is rather fatiguing, and their patience was almost worn out, when Harry exclaimed, "Here they are, mamma!" and he and Rosa bounded out to the gate. Arthur was there before them, and the poor orphan could not complain of the welcome she received from at least three of her cousins. Nelly also had heard the cab, and she entered the dining-room just as Mrs. Norton rose to receive her niece with fond affection. Nelly heard the soft voice, which seemed to claim pity and affection; "How do you do, dear Aunt Alice?" she saw the sweet fair face, delicate features, and golden curls, to which the deep mourning formed a contrast, while it shrouded them; she saw her mother's affectionate welcome, and a feeling of envy arose in her heart. Yet conscious shame at the feeling made her come forward and welcome her cousin kindly, and lead her upstairs to prepare for a dinner-tea, which Mrs. Norton had ordered.

During the meal all restraint passed off. The boys talked of their school; Mrs. Norton asked her niece a few questions about herself; and, after tea, even little Rosa tried to please, by showing her the numerous dissected puzzles and maps, which were her own property.

Mr. Norton summoned the household for family worship early that evening; and alone in her room Edith knelt to thank her Heavenly Father for having provided her with such kind friends and such a happy home.

HEN Edith awoke next morning and opened her window, to look out over the prospect which lay spread

before it, her heart leapt for joy. At the end of a garden, full of spring flowers, stood several lofty elms, in which the rooks were busily engaged, and making the air resound with their cawing. The cuckoo not far distant, and the song of the lark over-head, the chirping of birds, the cackling of hens, and the crowing of cocks, were to the town-bred, nature-loving child, most delightful sights and sounds.

She dressed quickly, and again kneeling by her bed, prayed with child-like simplicity to her Father in Heaven, whom she had been taught to love. Then she went softly downstairs to find her way into the garden; the servants were already about, and one of them readily attended to the gentle request to show her the garden door.

She was wandering through the walks, sometimes stopping to smell the sweet flowers, when she heard a voice. She looked up; Nelly was at her window.

"Oh, Edith, how early you are out! wait for me and I'll take you over the kitchen garden and show you the chickens; I'm nearly dressed."