When Florence rode on horseback, her habit was so long that it nearly touched the ground (that is, if she followed the fashion of the day, but I should not wonder a bit if she and her mother were too sensible!) and she wore a round, broad-brimmed hat with long ostrich plumes. I remember a picture of the Princess Royal (afterwards Empress Frederick of Germany), in a costume like this, which I thought one of the most beautiful things I ever saw, so I shall imagine Florence, on an afternoon ride with the squire, let us say, dressed in this way; but when scampering about on her pony, I trust, she wore a less cumbrous costume. You will remember that the Nightingales spent the winter at Embley Park, in Hampshire. Here, too, Florence was busy in good and helpful work. At Christmas time she found her best pleasure in giving presents to young and old among the poor people about her, in getting up entertainments for the children, training them to sing, arranging treats for the old people in the poorhouse. On Christmas Eve the village carol singers would come and sing on the lawn; old English carols, that had been sung by generation after generation. Poor Anthony Babington over at Lea Hall may have listened on Christmas Eve to the same sweet old songs. As Joseph was a-walking, He heard an angel sing, "This night shall be the birthnight Of Christ our heavenly King. "His birth-bed shall be neither In housen nor in hall, Nor in the place of paradise, But in the oxen's stall. "He neither shall be rockèd In silver nor in gold, But in the wooden manger That lieth in the mold. "He neither shall be washen With white wine nor with red, But with the fair spring water That on you shall be shed. "He neither shall be clothèd In purple nor in pall, But in the fair white linen That usen babies all." As Joseph was a-walking, Thus did the angel sing, And Mary's son at midnight Was born to be our King. Then be you glad, good people, At this time of the year; And light you up your candles, For His star it shineth clear. Then who so glad as Florence to call the singers in and bid them welcome and "Merry Christmas!" and aid in distributing the mince pies and silver coins which were always their due. When Florence was fairly "grown up," other things came into her life, the gay and merry things that come to so many girls. Mr. Nightingale was a man of wealth and position, and liked his wife and daughters to have their share in the gayeties of the county. So there were many parties, at Embley and elsewhere, and Florence danced as gayly, I doubt not, as the other girls. She went to London, too, and she and her sister were presented to Queen Victoria, and had their share of the brilliant society of the time.