of the Tyne. They had all the elements of
vagabonds and artists in them, but not a
grain of the stuff that makes up society.
They were beings to be loved, but woe to
the daring woman who should attempt to
"introduce " them. They were most repugnant
to the feelings of the Lady Albinia;
but she comforted herself by saying that she
would soon alter all this.

Daisy was her point of attack. But
Daisy was hard to fight, and harder to
conquer. Good temper that never failed;
laughter answering back reproof, because not
understanding it as reproof; a wild, free
love that could not accept slights or hints,
and that kissed away the vinegar even from
Lady Albinia's lips; all this made the
instruction and the chastisement of Daisy
a difficult matter, even to a person of the
Lady Albinia's judgment and experience.
Why might she not wander out on the fells
with her brothers and Charley Musgrave,
their tutor — who, by the way, was as true
a Bedouin as themselves? Because the
world did not approve of it. But, there was
no world here, and what did it signify to her,
even if there had been? She did not interfere
with the world — why, then, should the world
interfere with her? Why must she wear
stays, when they hurt her, and shoes too
small for her feet, and too thin for the
rocks? Was it not very foolish to give
herself a pain in her side and chest, and to
get her feet wet, besides cutting them with
shingles? That was not wise, surely, no
more than wearing silk gowns that trailed in
the mud, and caught in the ling and the
crags, and were spoiled by the rain and the
bogs. Why must she turn up her hair?
Because she looked like a great girl ?  But
who saw her, excepting her brothers and
Charley Musgrave, who was like a brother?
It was much less trouble to let it hang down
naturally. But if mamma liked, it should be
turned up; she did not much care about it.
Which was one point gained, thought the
Lady Albinia, grimly.

To make Daisy wear gloves and fine
bonnets, and lustrous gowns, or drive out
in the carriage like a lady, or submit to be
dressed by a maid, or to make her give up
her Bedouin habits of roving about the
mountains, or to impress her with a sense of
her guilt in wearing a wide-awake hat, and
in rowing out on the lake into long past
midnight—to civilise or tame her, in short, was
beyond Lady Albinia; she might us well have
talked politics to Daisy's mother the Arab.
Daisy stared, looked bewildered, perhaps
would burst into a wild laugh, run up to her
stepmother, kiss her gaily, and then rush out
of the house and up the mountain like a goat.
Lady Albinia's own maid, one of the finest of
that class of fine ladies, said that "Miss
Larnplugh was quite wicked to forget
Providence, who had placed her in such a high
station; and she made bold to speak to her
ladyship about it, " tears coming into her
virtuous eyes as she did so.

Lady Albinia had a choice of action:
either to leave the Lamplugh children
ignominiously to their mountains and their
foxgloves, ignoring them for ever after; or to
take them by a coup-de-main to London;
turn off Charley Musgrave, and begin to
mould them in good earnest into drawing-room
exquisites. Mr. Lamplugh consented,
when she consulted him — if her haughty
wishes, curtly expressed, could be called a
consultation — and he agreed to her plans
saying also, " that Daisy was far too wild;
and that indeed they did all need taming
down sadly." When the children surrounded
him, in an uproar of waving arms and
passionate voices, and big eyes full of tears and
lightning, he said, " No, no, my dears, you
shall remain here; you shall not go to
London." Which had the good effect of
pacifying both parties.

Charley Musgrave was the Lady Albinia's
pet aversion. It was he who led the way over
the steepest crags, and who taught them that
unfeeling indifference to pain and accidents,
which horrified the Lady Albinia inexpressibly.
When the eldest boy, Selim, fell and
cut his forehead, Charley Musgrave bathed
and bound it up, heartless fellow! joking all
the time, and telling the child to be sure not
to cry, for it would soon be well again. Such
an example to the rest. What would they
become, if that dreadful young man remained
with them ? He was more moved though, when
Daisy cut her hand with the garden shears.
Indeed Lady Albinia thought he would have
fainted; though Daisy was so unladylike as
to laugh, and say she was no worse, while
the blood was streaming over her short
white frock. But, Lady Albinia had
sharp eyes, and saw more plainly than
most people what blushes and paleness
meant. Daisy and Charley Musgrave .were
put under mental arrest after this, and the
lady's vigilance over her prisoners never
relaxed.

Lady Albinia expressed her wish one day
that Daisy should be " presented." At first
Daisy did not quite understand her; when
the fact was made clear to her, she said not
a word; but with the bound of a wounded
panther, rushed into her father's study, standing
before him flushed, and bathed in passionate
tears.

"Why, Daisy! what is the matter?
" exclaimed Mr. Lamplugh, waking out of a
half-doze in something like terror at the storm of
passion that burst before him.

"Oh, papa! papa! Mamma says I am to
be presented." sobbed Daisy.

'' Well, my dear, what then ? " said Mr.
Lamplugh; pleasantly, poor man, smiling
feebly.

"Oh, papa! You promised I should not
go to London—you know you did. You said
I should not leave Todcroft."