If they will feel as if they were on a visit to friends grown older, with their children about them, and if the young will forgive the seeing with elder eyes, and observing instead of participating, that is all the veteran author would ask. C. M. YONGE. Elderfield, January 31, 1895. LIST OF CONTENTS I. A CHAPTER OF RETROSPECT II. A CHAPTER OF TWADDLE III. DARBY AND JOAN IV. SLUM, SEA, OR SEASON V. A HAPPY SPRITE VI. ST. ANDREW’S ROCK VII. THE HOPE OF VANDERKIST VIII. THE MOUSE-TRAP IX. OUT BEYOND X. NOBLESSE OBLIGE XI. HEROES AND HERO-WORSHIP XII. THE LITTLE BUTTERFLY XIII. TWO SIDES OF A SHIELD AGAIN XIV. BUTTERFLY’S NECTAR XV. A POOR FOREIGN WIDOW XVI. “SEE, THE CONQUERING HERO COMES” XVII. EXCLUDED XVIII. THE EVIL STAR XXX. SHOP-DRESSING XX. FRENCH LEAVE XXI. THE MASQUE XXII. THE REGATTA XXIII. ILLUMINATIONS XXIV. COUNSELS OF PATIENCE XXV. DESDICHADO XXVI. THE SILENT STAR XXVII. THE RED MANTLE XXVIII. ROCCA MARINA XXIX. ROWENA AND HER RIVAL XXX. DREAMS AND NIGHTINGALES XXXI. THE COLD SHOULDER XXXII. THE TEST OF DAY-DREAMS XXXIII. A MISSIONARY WEDDING XXXIV. RIGHTED THE LONG VACATION CHAPTER I. -- A CHAPTER OF RETROSPECT Sorrow He gives and pain, good store; Toil to bear, for the neck which bore; For duties rendered, a duty more; And lessons spelled in the painful lore Of a war which is waged eternally.--ANON. “Ah! my Gerald boy! There you are! Quite well?” Gerald Underwood, of slight delicate mould, with refined, transparent-looking features, and with hair and budding moustache too fair for his large dark eyes, came bounding up the broad stair, to the embrace of the aunt who stood at the top, a little lame lady supported by an ivory-headed staff. Her deep blue eyes, dark eyebrows, and sweet though piquant face were framed by the straight crape line of widowhood, whence a soft white veil hung on her shoulders. “Cherie sweet! You are well? And the Vicar?” “Getting on. How are they all at Vale Leston?” “All right. Your mother got to church on Easter-day.” This was to Anna Vanderkist, a young person of the plump partridge order, and fair, rosy countenance ever ready for smiles and laughter. “Here are no end of flowers,” as the butler brought a hamper. “Daffodils! Oh!--and anemones! How delicious! I must take Clement a bunch of those dear white violets. I know where they came from,” and she held them to her lips. “Some primroses too, I hope.” “A few; but the main body, tied up in tight bunches like cauliflowers, I dropped at Kensington Palace Gardens.” “A yellow primrose is much more than a yellow primrose at present,” said Mrs. Grinstead, picking out the few spared from political purposes. “Clement will want his button-hole, to greet Lance.” “So he is advanced to button-holes! And Lance?” “He is coming up for the Press dinner, and will sleep here, to be ready for Primrose-day.” “That’s prime, whatever brings him.”