PAGE EDITH _Frontispiece_ OLDHAM MANOR 8 "IN A FEW MINUTES THEY HAD LANDED" 15 WINDSOR CASTLE 50 "AFTER WATCHING OTHER ANTICS OUR LITTLE FRIENDS BADE THE 'BEEFEATER' AND HIS PET GOOD-BYE" 76 "SHE WALKED DOWN THE PATH BY THE RIVER AVON" 96 [Illustration] Our Little English Cousin CHAPTER I. EDITH'S HOME ON THE THAMES "NOW it is really time to get ready, is it not, Miss Green?" exclaimed Edith, looking up at the clock for the twentieth time during the last half-hour, and breaking off in the middle of the list of English kings and queens which she was trying to commit to memory. Which king came after Henry III., in that far-away time, seemed a small matter compared to the outing which she and her governess had planned to enjoy on the river that lovely afternoon. Miss Green smiled indulgently as she closed her book. "It does seem a shame to remain indoors a moment longer than one can help such a day as this. Well, I will see Betty about the tea-things and pack them in the basket while you are getting ready." You may imagine it did not take Edith long to put away her books; then giving her good-natured governess a hug she skipped off for her hat and coat. "There are Eleanor and Clarence waiting for us now," cried Edith, as she and Miss Green, who was carrying the tea-basket, crossed the gardens. Running over the lawn, which stretched down to the river, she greeted her two little playmates from the vicarage. All three were bubbling over with glee at the prospect of an outing this bright June afternoon upon the river Thames. They were to go up-stream to a pretty little nook, in a quiet "backwater," which was a favourite spot with them, and have a "gipsy" tea under the willows. The children were soon seated on cushions in the neat little shallow punt. Towser, the big collie dog, was already in the boat, for he knew he was a welcome companion on these trips. Miss Green, standing at one end, poled the boat gracefully through the water. This looks like an easy thing to do, but it takes a great deal of skill to handle a punt. "Does not the river look gay?" said Eleanor. "There are lots of people out." The river indeed was covered with pleasure craft of all kinds. There is probably no stream in the world so given up to pleasure as is the Thames, which flows through the very heart of England; indeed it has been called the "River of Pleasure."