"No, no! go away, go away. I won't love you!"
At this moment the door opened, and Mr. Linchmore entered. He was a fine, tall looking man, with a pleasing expression of countenance, and his manner was so kind as he welcomed Amy that he won her heart at once. "Hey-day!" he exclaimed, "was it Alice's voice I heard as I came downstairs? I am afraid, Isabella, you keep her up too late. It is high time she was in bed and asleep. We shall have little pale cheeks, instead of these round rosy ones," added he, as the little girl climbed his knee, and looked up fondly in his face.
"She was not in the least sleepy," replied his wife, "and begged so hard to be allowed to remain, that I indulged her for once."
"Ah! well," said he, smiling, and glancing at Amy. "We shall have a grand reformation soon. But where are Edith and Fanny?"
"They were so naughty I was obliged to send them away up stairs. Fanny broke the vase Charles gave me last winter."
"By-the-by, I have just heard from Charles; he has leave from his regiment for a month, and is going to Paris; but is coming down here for a few days before he starts, just to say good-bye."
"One of his 'flying visits,' as he calls them. How sorry I am!"
"Sorry! why so?"
"Because he promised to spend his leave with us. What shall we do without him? and how dull it will be here."