The first time that they took their accustomed stroll, they met the lady walking slowly along. The moment she caught sight of the children, she came eagerly forward, but was met, to her great surprise, by reserve, though it was mixed with an obvious wish to speak. At that moment the servant said pertly, "You were told, young ladies, that your mamma does not approve of your speaking to nobody knows who."
"Is that all?" said the lady, with her own peculiar sad smile. "I will not detain you now; but this evening I will write to Lady Anne, and I dare say that she will allow you to come and drink tea with me." The note came; what its contents were Lady Anne kept to herself, but the children received permission to spend the afternoon with Mrs. Cranstoun. For two successive years the acquaintance continued. Mrs. Cranstoun remained for a couple of months every autumn in the same villa, and the three younger girls were more there than at home. An old Scotch lady, grave, silent, and even stern in her manner, was the only living creature they ever saw besides the servants. Every thing indicated wealth; books, music, flowers, and the pretty trifles scattered round were all of the most expensive kind, and their hostess was young, and singularly beautiful, but some mystery there certainly was.
What could induce one so formed for society to live in such entire seclusion! Children as the Granards were, they understood that there was something a
