Dudley did find it difficult at first to gain her pupil's attention, but still she was satisfied, for she saw Alice was trying, and this was all she could at first expect.

On this morning when Charlie's letter had arrived, Alice went to the schoolroom with a happy heart, repeated all her lessons almost perfectly, read her chapter in history carefully, standing by Miss Dudley's side, and then answered the questions satisfactorily, which proved that she had been thinking of what she read.

"Now, Alice, all finished but your music lesson and your sums."

The music was gone through without much difficulty, and at last Alice sat before her slate. But, unfortunately, when Alice put her little hand into her pocket for her pencil, she felt Charlie's letter there too, and now the oftener Alice said three hundred and sixty-nine into three thousand three hundred seventy-two, the more confused she became. It was only a simple sum, one which Alice at another time would have worked without hesitation, but her thoughts dwelt so much on her letter now, that at last she drew it out of her pocket. Yes; there it was in its envelope, with the well-known handwriting in which "Miss Alice

L'Estrange" was written so distinctly. How could she help wondering what Charlie was doing now? This was Saturday, just one peep to find out what he had said about Saturday. Alice opened the letter, and looking over it hastily, she read-" On Saturday we are to have a football match," and just as Alice was picturing Charlie and Harry in their gay football dress, Miss Dudley turned suddenly round, saying

"Alice, what are you doing?"

The letter fell from Alice's hand on the carpet in an instant.

"Bring me that letter, Alice." Alice obeyed in silence. And Miss Dudley continued, "I am surprised that you should waste your time, Alice. Do you think Charlie would wish you to read his letter, when you ought to be doing your

sum ?"

This remark touched Alice's heart, and giving one lingering look at the table drawer, in which Miss Dudley had locked her treasured letter, she began diligently to work her sum; but long before the sum was finished, the hall clock chimed halfpast twelve-Alice's usual hour for leaving the schoolroom, and her papa came in, saying—

"Why, Alice, not finished yet? I thought you

were coming out to ride with me." Then looking at her slate, and seeing how many figures had yet to be put down before the sums were finished, he added, "Have you been naughty with your lessons, Alice, that you are so late with your slate work?” "No, papa." Here two bright drops fell on Alice's slate.

"What then, Alice?"

"I read Charlie's letter, papa," said Alice, getting very red, and not daring to look up.

"Reading letters in school, Alice !—must not do that again. No ride, I suppose, to-day, Miss Dudley?" added Mr L'Estrange.

"I am very sorry, for Alice really did try to do her lessons well, and was attentive at her music. Perhaps when she has finished her sums, you will take her, Mr L'Estrange. I do not think she will read a letter at the wrong time again," said Miss Dudley kindly.

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Well, Miss Dudley, you know I never interfere when you punish Alice; it shall be just as you think it best."

"Then I should wish her to go this time," said Miss Dudley, looking over at the little figure trying to do the sum.

Miss Dudley was not disappointed in Alice, for

the sums were worked perfectly, and Alice tried her very best to have each figure in its own place, before she handed up the slate.

"You may go now, Alice," said Miss Dudley as she gave Alice back her letter. Down again into the little pocket it went, and then Alice asked forgiveness for being so inattentive, and went off to her papa.

"Always some battle to fight, Alice," he said as she came into the library.

"Yes, papa, but I am going with you now," she replied in a tone of confiding trust; and in the pleasures of the ride which followed, Alice forgot all the morning's trouble, and only came back in time to write Charlie a long, long letter, full of home news, and learn her lessons for Monday. But before Alice went to bed, she again read her brother's letter to old nurse, and then was

off to sleep, to see in her dreams two merry schoolboys, in bright blue caps, playing a football match.

IME went by. The winter had bid adieu to all, and the gentle spring had come. The Studbury Park we entered once in the pure deep snow was now rich in bud and bloom and blossom; but with the spring-time came not only changes in bud and blossom, but in Alice's home too.

It was on one of these lovely spring days that Alice, having finished all her lessons satisfactorily, and left the schoolroom, without one mark in the judgment book with the ominous black binding, wandered off with a happy heart to the wood -the wood where she had sat one cold winter's