She rose as Mousey came into the room, and held out her hand to the old man in farewell, a pleasant smile lighting up her face. His manner to her was most courteous, and he thanked her heartily for her kindness to his little cousin.
Mousey thoroughly enjoyed the short walk which followed, during which she talked unreservedly to her companion. Arrived at their destination, the little girl was seized upon by the twins, who bore her off to their nursery, where they showed her all their toys, and soon persuaded her to join them in a good romping game. Then followed tea, which was a pleasant meal made merry by Dolly and Dick, who insisted on sitting one on each side of their visitor, whom they appeared to regard as especially their own. About seven o'clock John Monday arrived to take Mousey home, and she said good-bye to her friends with many expressions of grateful thanks, which touched Mrs. Downing's kind heart, and prompted her to give the little girl a motherly kiss, and a promise that she should come again.
Mousey tried to amuse her companion with an account of the happy time she had spent, as she tripped lightly homewards by his side; but the boy appeared moody, and disinclined for conversation. He only made one remark all the way, and that was: "Mr. Harding had a long letter from your Aunt Eliza by the evening's post."
"I wonder why she has written to Cousin Robert, and not to me, as she usually does," she thought. "I hope nothing is wrong!"
Nothing was wrong, as Mousey was soon to learn. She found Mr. Harding in the parlour on her return, reading the newspaper. He turned to her as she entered, and inquired how she had got on at Mrs. Downing's. She was too curious to know the contents of her aunt's letter to give him a lengthy account of her visit, but she curbed her impatience as much as she could, and replied that she had spent a most enjoyable time.
"I've had a letter from Cousin Eliza," he next remarked. "She enclosed a note for you. Here it is."
"Oh!" Mousey exclaimed joyfully. "John Monday said you had heard from Aunt Eliza. Thank you, Cousin Robert," she said, as she took the note from his hand.
She read it at once, her face alternately flushing and paling as she grasped its meaning. It ran as follows:—
"MY DEAR MOUSEY,"
"I have been writing to Cousin Robert to ask him to allow you