"And will you not come nearer the fire, while our good friend is finding your book?" said Miss Gage to Margaret. "Thank you," returned Margaret, drawing towards the fire, and ungloving her beautiful hands. "Do you like this cold weather?" asked Miss Gage, kindly. "Yes, when it is a hard frost," returned Margaret; "but I am looking forward very much to summer time." "You will find the neighbourhood beautiful in spring," said Miss Gage, "and I think Mr. Grey has the prettiest place in the county." "I am glad of that," said Margaret, "I have not half explored it yet." "I dare say you have plenty of amusements in-doors," said Miss Gage, "I am sure you have an unfailing one if you are fond of reading." "Yes, reading and music," said Margaret, "and the house is kept so warm, that I can play wherever I like on wet days." "And what do you play at?" asked Miss Gage. "Battledore," said Margaret, blushing as she made the confession; "but it is rather stupid with only one player." "You will give this note to Mr. Grey, little one," said Mr. Warde, returning to Margaret with her book, "and make good haste home, or you are likely to be caught in the rain. And now, Miss Elizabeth, I have done your bidding." "Thank you very much for your kindness," said Miss Gage, as she shook hands with him. Then turning to Margaret with a sweet smile and a bow, she said, "I hope it may happen that we shall be better acquainted with each other." Margaret endeavoured to say a few words expressive of her pleasure in the idea; and then hurried off to Land with her book and note. Now Miss Gage had begged Mr. Warde to write to Mr. Grey, that she might know whether it would be agreeable to him that she should make the acquaintance of his niece. He was recognised as such a determined invalid by all the country round, that she never thought of calling upon Margaret, taking it for granted that such a step would be an intrusion upon Mr. Grey's habits. But she wished much to show her every attention in her power, from a sincere desire to make her happier than she was likely to be if always shut up with a nervous old man for her only companion; and from a hope that her society might be of some advantage to a girl so much younger than herself; for Margaret was right, Miss Gage was turned of two-and-twenty. For acts of disinterested kindness are not quite so frequent as good people imagine, nor yet so uncommon as selfish people, who never perform them, would fain make out. The pitiful phrase of nothing for nothing being unceasingly used by those sorry persons, who give nothing, it is true; but who invariably take all they can pillage, or beg from every human being they approach.