Then she put her hand on Mrs. Allison's shoulder, bending her height to her small hostess. "What a day, and what a place! Hallin and I have been over hill and dale. But he is getting such a botanist, the little monkey! He will hardly forgive me because I forgot one of the flowers we found out yesterday in his botany book." "She said it was 'Robin-run-in-the-'edge,' and it isn't--it's 'edge mustard," said Hallin, severely, holding up a little feathery stalk. Mrs. Allison shook her head, endeavouring to suit her look to the gravity of the offence. "Mother must learn her lessons better, mustn't she? Go and shake hands, little man, with Lady Tressady." Hallin went gravely to do as he was told. Then he stood on one foot, and looked Letty over with a considering eye. "Are you going to a party?" he said suddenly, putting out a small and grimy finger, and pointing to her dress. "Hallin! come here and have your tea," said his mother, hastily. Then she turned to Letty with the smile that had so often won Maxwell a friend. "I am sorry to say that he has a rooted objection to anything that isn't rags in the way of clothes. He entirely declined to take me across the river till I had rolled up my lace cloak and put it in a bush. And he won't really be friends with me again till we have both got back to the scarecrow garments we wear at home." "Oh! children are so much happier when they are dirty," said Letty, graciously, pleased to feel herself on these easy terms with her two companions. "What beautiful flowers he has! and what an astonishing little botanist he seems to be!" And she seated herself beside Hallin, using all her blandishments to make friends with him, which, however, did not prove to be an easy matter. For when she praised his flowers, Hallin only said, with his mouth full: "Oh! but mammy's bunch is _hever_ so much bigger;" and when she offered him cake, the child would sturdily put the cake away, and hold it and her at arm's length till his mute look across the table had won his mother's nod of permission. Letty at last thought him an odd, ill-mannered child, and gave up courting him, greatly to Hallin's satisfaction. He edged closer and closer to his mother, established himself finally in her pocket, and browsed on all the good things with which Mrs. Allison provided him, undisturbed. "How late they are!" said Marcella, looking at her watch. "Tell me the names again, dear lady"--she bent forward, and laid her hand affectionately on Mrs. Allison's knee. "Your parties are always a work of art." Mrs. Allison flushed a little, as though she liked the compliment, and ran laughingly through the names. "Lord and Lady Maxwell." "Ah!" said Marcella, "the least said about them the soonest mended. Go on." "Lord and Lady Cathedine." Marcella made a face.