—she also longed to get out of her grandmother's presence on any terms.
Rose's bower (so called from Rose having been the first to discover it) was some distance up the winding path. It was a nice little nook, thickly shaded on all sides, having a small aperture in the west, and was completely covered with wild flowers of every description. The ascent was very difficult, for they had quite to force their way through the underwood. They arrived at last, tired and breathless, but the wild secluded beauty of the spot quite repaid them for their trouble. Isabel was in raptures, and expressed her admiration in no measured terms to the delighted children.
"Oh! Everard, how did you find us," exclaimed Alice, as that gentleman made his appearance, "I thought no one knew of this place but ourselves."
"Oh I followed just to see to what unheard of spot you were taking Miss Leicester," replied Everard good-naturedly.
"Then you might have joined us, and not have crept after us in that mean way."
said Rose angrily.
"Rose, my dear Rose, you must not speak in that way."
interposed Isabel authoritatively.
"Oh Rose, don't you like Everard to come," asked Amy reproachfully.
"I don't like him to come in that way."