The old man used to say afterwards, when he looked back to this time, that everything went well with him from the moment he saw the faces of those dear children; and they always remembered the day when they visited the Old Hall, as one of the happiest of their lives.
As for the fine Old Hall, John's hope was fulfilled about it. His lordship had it repaired and furnished and came to live there, and made John his head carpenter there; so that he never wanted work, and in time took his brother into partnership, and the two sons made their father and sister happy and comfortable all their days.
THE PICNIC IN THE FOREST.
A PIC-NIC IN THE FOREST.
"It must be six o'clock!" cried Florence Thornhill, starting up in bed; "and it is a lovely morning. Emily, it must be six o'clock."
"Has Jane called us?" said Emily, almost in her sleep.
"No: but—hush! One, two, three, four. Oh! the clock only struck four;" and Florence fell fast asleep in an instant.
In another hour she jumped up again. "It must be"—the clock began to strike as she spoke, and she counted, "one, two, three, four, five,—only five yet," and once more fell asleep.
All was quiet till, another hour having past, Jane came in saying, "It is just going to strike six, young ladies."