Transcriber's note: Unusual and inconsistent spelling is as printed. [Illustration: "LULU STOOD ON THE DOORSTEP AND WAVED HER HAND IN FAREWELL."] THE MOAT HOUSE, OR, "Sir Jasper's Favourite Niece." BY ELEANORA H. STOOKE. AUTHOR OF "Little Maid Marigold," "The Hermit's Cave," "Sir Richard's Grandson," "Mousey," etc. WITH SIX ILLUSTRATIONS. London: S. W. PARTRIDGE & CO., 8 & 9 PATERNOSTER ROW. CONTENTS. CHAP. I. A STRANGE REQUEST II. GOOD-BYE TO THE OLD HOME III. THE ARRIVAL AT THE MOAT HOUSE IV. AUNT AND NIECE V. TRYING TO PLEASE SIR JASPER VI. THE LAWYER'S DAUGHTER VII. A SUNDAY AT THE MOAT HOUSE VIII. LEFT OUT IN THE COLD IX. CELIA'S ACCIDENT X. A FOOLISH, FORWARD CHIT XI. AN AFTERNOON OF STORM XII. AFTER THE STORM XIII. PUTTY'S GODFATHER XIV. As GOOD AS PRETTY XV. THE BUTTERFLY BROOCH XVI. SIR JASPER'S GENEROSITY XVII. THE FLOWER SHOW XVIII. CELIA'S LOSS XIX. AFTER THE CONCERT XX. A RECONCILIATION CONTENTS. CHAP. XXI. A CARRIAGE ACCIDENT XXII. HOURS OF SUSPENSE XXIII. SIR JASPER BESTIRS HIMSELF XXIV. A NIGHT ALARM XXV. A CHANGE OF PLANS XXVI. AT A— AGAIN XXVII. SUNNY DAYS THE MOAT HOUSE. CHAPTER I. A STRANGE REQUEST. "JOY, I wish you'd put down that stupid book, and talk! You can't think how curious I feel! And how you can sit there reading so quietly when mother's in the next room with that strange gentleman, I can't imagine! I wonder what he's saying to her! I don't believe you're in the least curious to know!" Joy, whose real name was Joyce, shut her book, and looked at the speaker—her sister Celia—with thoughtful, grey eyes. Her mind was still occupied with the entrancing story she had been reading; and it took her several minutes to realise that her companion was in a state of feverish impatience to ascertain the business of the visitor who had requested a private interview with their mother, and still kept her in earnest conversation in the drawing-room. Joy had admitted the stranger into the house nearly half an hour before. Mrs. Wallis, whose husband had been a doctor, in the town of A—, had been left a widow some years previously; and she was rearing her family on a small income which had to be portioned out most carefully to make both ends meet. The family consisted of three children—Eric, a handsome lad of fifteen, who was at boarding-school; Celia, aged fourteen; and Joyce, two years younger. When her husband had died, Mrs. Wallis had at once vacated the large, roomy house in the main street of the town for the small villa where she was living at present. She was a brave woman, and a capital manager, but she found her income very inadequate for the requirements of her family. The two girls attended a day-school where the fees were not large; but Eric's school bills were heavy, and to meet them his mother was obliged to exercise the strictest economy at home.