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CHRISTIE'S GIFT. Hy f'"^ Amh .r of "Chick." MANLY AND BRAVE; or. Holim,i-v l.i sthi .. THE ADVENTURES OF A SIXPENCE. l:y H. l: . i iv.uo». 1 99 ; DAFF'S COIIXER; OR. THE MISSION OF TIIK DAITODILS. t CIIAI'TKU I. FLOWKUS AND FACI-S. P|T was >»ut only the brij^lit spring weather which attracted Ehba Morton and lier ^ youngest sister Agnes into tlio country lanes on the sunny March morning when our story begins. True, tlie sky was as blue as the southern sea, not a cloud flecking tlui broad expanse of sapphire and turquoise, anil tlie heat would iiave proved almost oppressive but tor the vigorous east wind. It blew across the valley w^ith just a spice of winter sharpne.^s, to remind the flowers that the suushiue in which they were revelling could not 6 Doffs Corner; or, altogetliLT Ir: trusted, for tlic year Avas as yet in its youth. Ovorlicad sang the larks in blitliesonie joy, a:.J all around the young leaves' fresh r^ecn gave promise of corning summer. .Vo Avonder tliat on a sunsliiny slope at tlie foot of the Downs the daffodils were 'dancing in the breeze.' The field where they llourished, ' Daffs Corner' ris it was called, was thus designated from its crowning glory in the sweet spring-tide. Tiie name seemed to have been handed down from fatiier to son among the village folk ; and old David King, at the cottage hard by, would tell the chance iii<[uirer, with some throbbings of ancestral pride, how he had often heard" his grandfather say, "Daffs C\.rner have always brought lu^k to DafFs Cottage"— the sjiecial reason for such pros])erity being the underlying fact, that a rioht of making a profit out of the field rested with the tenant <.f the gabled cottage, by p.-nnission of the l-rd of the manor, in recognition of some signal sej-vice rendered by a 'King' of former days. But now David had oidy the memory of the past on which to dwell; never more would the 'Cottage' own the 'Corner,' lor the estate had passed into strange hands, and his thoughts were often embittered The MUdnn of tic DafToiUls. s VL't in tjicsonie >li grocii (ler that "viis the ConuT' rum its ■. The ■n from \\\\ old uld tell in;^s (.f rd liis alwnys special oilvinnf 3Ut of gabled manor, ndered David icli to ivn the trail iro ittered as he remembered the old days of independence. Private sorrow too had helped to whiten his hair and weaken his once sturdy frame ; still, in his way, old David cor.ld appreciate the btaiity of the morning, as standing at his door supporting liis rheumatic limbs on two stout sticks, his eyes roved over the liedge, along the soft undulations of the Stjuth J)owns above, stretching away for miles and miles in lone- liness, save for a few scattered sheep here and there, tiiriioi] out to nibble the short, crisp grass at their own will. Thf w.lcome sight of a neighbour coming up thu road ] -roved, liowever, an irresistible attraction to the old man, and hobbling to the l''tlc rustic gate, which opened away from the fiuni on the ojtposite side of the house, he and his ancient crony Dan Milton were soon engi'osseil in discussin<«- those rural matters dear to the countryman's heart. In c«»ii'^tM|uence of this, David did not see a pony-chaise approaclung by the other road, which led to the village from the neighbouring town of Geerham. It containeil the two girls above- meution«jd, from whose lips burst delighted ex- clamations as they caught sight of the flower- bedeckud onjaduw. Very soon their baskets were 8 Da{f*s Corner; or. filled to overllowing with golden clusters, and then they strolled into a small copse higher up, ■where the ground was cushioned with moss, out of which peeped tufts of early primroses. The boy in charge of the hired chaise meanwhile took advantage of their absence by snatcliin'^ up all the flowers near at hand ; but his occupation was suddenly interrupted as a burly policeman strode across the grass, calliug out in stentorian voice that he was trespassing on j)rivate property. " And afore you go out of that gate, young man, just drop them flowers : folks ain't a-going to do as they likes s' long as I'm on duty, and Colonel Borley he gives me orders to look up trespassers." Having ejected one crestfallen delinquent, ho must needs expel any others lurking on forbidden ground. It gave him some extra and undesired exercise to parade the length of the field, with the hot sunshine scorching his red, round face, ere he met and accosted the two innocent otfenders emerging from the copse. "Now, young ladies, as you're a-trespasslng, the sooner you goes the better, and I'll just seo you off the premises." "We really did not know," began Ebba, with ilushmg checks. " There is no board to be seen, 4 I Thr mfoiUIs. 4> i i and the gate was unfastened, and I am sure no harni has been done by us." "P'raps not, miss; but *bere is a board up there " (apparently in the i;j; iStauce), " and people as won't walk out has to give me names and addresses, 'cording to tlie Colonel's orders." "There is no need lor that," responded the girl, as she walked with dignity, though with figuratively milled plumes, towards the gate. But she was not prepared I'or his parting shaft, which struck home. "Can't allow you to take them flowers away, miss." "Oh, that is too bad!" and " Ebba, it is a shame!" commented the two girls. Certainly it was a'i'Jfrn,vatin' «>'^-0-Wy s|,„ul.l set .stnro by suel, o-,„.„„ tlu.ys. Tl,e,n y„„„, Lilies-well, .nay- bo he ,r,« rather hard .,„ ,|.e ,i||^, ,„,i,,,_ ' ■-.h.erknow,, better ,l,o,,.|, ;,,„,,,,,,„, ;^^_ -ciar put out that ,„„n,i,,.-ne'er a place to call lu. eun wheu the ,„i.ssu. ha^l ,.,- her cleaning J on. l----n.l.tonpsettl,opatientestJ„b <-"n,pyC;™nll,„rn'(,o ran the village title) '';"' " l'-;rt; that wa. unde,n-able-b„t it wa i'l'')i ban to <'et at i ;,„r I <■ i i , ^ u u<^t at, ^, my defended by a .,tuut •■"".'- oiolneml in,pertanee. S.unetin,,; tl,n„,d, •-^.denny- sunbean, would find its v.av belaud the deience, and then the cita.lel wa. ,vuu A childless man bin.seli: no one .uspeeted hiu, of a yearu.ng after the rosy-cheeked villa... ,''''''■"'■ "'"• ^* ' '•" -bolescono dread ot ti; blue-eoaled ,l,yn,tary; but if he had a ..-eai-ne^. 1 TJif }[i.<-^i'yii of the DoffoiUJ^. 11 tliat their lit iivcrv Hour and H'lil, stood rtoilijs to ii"ii) his .succtfd- rouldii't by such ell, iiiay- Tlioy'd \vns j)ar- !o to call clean incr test Job Iiorn : " yt' title) it was ;v fttout tli(iUL;h Ix'liitid *■'! Iiiiii villngo of the (as wlio has n.^t '() it was for tlicni, with all their provoking impertinence and pranks behind his broad back, which they vainly imagined shielded them from sight. Therefore we need not wonder at a smile breaking over his ruddy visage as he heard a little voice at his side — "Mr, Uruntliorn, I'm going away to-morrow, and Mrs. Giunthorn told me you were in the lieid, so I've come t(j sav irood-bvc." "Well, Miss Nellie," said our friend, "you'll be hearty welcome back again, though l)y th. n maybe you'll be a grown young lady, and you won't care for Nuthurst folks." "Oh, ^Ir. Grunthorn," gravely responded tlie small speaker, "I shall never forget anvbodv here, anil I don't know what I shall do without my dear old Guard," laying her hand caressingly on the curly coat of the groat dog standing bv. "I do wish I might take liim, but Aunt Judith says he wouldn't be ha]»py in Lond-ui, and you know I might lose Inm. She says I am to come again soon, so I shan't be grown up after all." Kellie Mayer had been on a visit of two months at Downside Farm, with her Uncle atid Aunt Benton; fever being j^'i'evalent in the London suburb wh.crc she and her widowed mother lived. 12 J^".fs Corner; or, "'■■II, ..,y,|..a,-,'-,,,j„i„„,,|, '- --rpea by f„ii., ,, ,,,,, ,,. " "' -y ''--.; b::,; ;;;tr.''7 ''''■';■■' '^''- ''1' ''■ y- like, ,.,w,." '' ''"^ '"'•■' ''-"' "'" l-^-^l'-issor, i„oit«l ,„oro„v,.,- i , t.v.s,.a«c.,.." "-'■" "■"■" ^'■^■^1«^--.^ and '■^•S i^i^iT,,:::::^ r'-^ ^ ^^^ .»^y i.. c..,. ' "'--^t inoniin- saw her on,! fl TJ'C M,'..n of (he DoiToiJlh. 15 fo : " rt is •'; that I -liat Wtih cur Pri.s tlio [ieJu's ^ iookcd 1 smile. Ij.iek to bit Jilve -y-six, if ' these lioiight s me/' s life, lajbe, '. It 'lan't their 8iic iass. furemost in fun a . miscliicf among tlie villago vonntrstors. litit underlying this exuberance of animal life uere doeply-rooteil affections and a tenacious attachment to friends ami home. Per- liaps the fath.r and mother were not over-wise in their treatment of this one darling; it is not an uncommon failing among parents. They hoped to keep her always with them, or at least near enou'di to be the stay and comfort of their old a.<^e ; and we can scarcely wonder that an invita- tion for Pris to stay with David's widowed sister in London should have been a little unwelrome. The girl, somewhat fretted by parental restraints, was wild with excitement; she went and re- turnetl, but after that her thoughts were con- tinually wandering away to the great city, so diflereut in its surging life to the quiet, sleej)y village of Nuthurst. The visit was repeated, once and again, for how could David disappoint and grieve his one sister now that she was left alone to battle witli the world, though not with poverty ? But each time that he allowe'J be safe with „s ,,,, ...other don't n,in, „,e joing either" But Pns ,i, net feel quite comfortable about g-.; d,d the strildng of St. Martin^it! The Mission of the Daffodils. 17 e rcMjuireil 't'st, as iixY side. licr front and likod 'if coiirrfo iber day, ith liith- ti to the ^iiipuUcd 5 Iiad a -ir ncxt- ^va.s not i'ni and -a, tho I over- 1 to an ".-^ J Vis tVic-nd:?. -T had s, and about remind her tluit in the old cottage at this time her parents would be reading their cvenin«' portion and praying fo- the ahserit daughter! If so, tliese unpalatable thoughts wore easik and effectually silenced, and her uneasiness dispelled by the unaccustomed scene before her, the lights and dresses, the music and singing, and scarcely- veiled theatrical effects. Pris went home to bed in a wiiirl of bewildered excitement and strange new desires. Of course she went again and again, for the second step downhill follows so easily on the first. Mrs. :Miller. on lier return, expostulated witli her in a mild way, and at last proposed she should revisit Nuthurst; "she had been away nearly two months, and it was (|uite time for her to go back." The girl seemed out of sorts, alternately gay and gloomy, and her aunt could not altogether make lier out. But the niqht before the homewar.l journey, when Dav:'d and Ruth were longingly anticipating her coming, poor, silly, wilful Pris disa])pcared from Anstey Terrace, and from that day to this Nuthurst had never seen her fkce. Where had she gone ? Ah! this was not easy to say; but Joe Grey and his Sister Kilty remembered that they had 13 I^i'JT' Cornrr, \ % often .,« ,cod a tall, .ol,lie,-likc ,„au. pa,., | 'Zz "• '""^-^ "■"' "- ti„,v,,^,i ,.„, »"cill^ • .« I,,,,,., r.tl,cr lalu (ikn, ,l,o I-""', ,1. ,,. looki,,^ «„,,,^,, ,^^^1 ^«^ ^ tl..c.„dof„,„.,„i.l„..„„ea„„t...,. Mm.Miller 'ign^lLy 'Arthur ''IutcImII; saving .hat IVi,. ■■ '■ ,K'„j^ was the wWior's lawful wife, «„,! n, •e *■"'"■• I her to assuin. tl,„ , 4,;.,,, j,, ,^,,,|„|^ ■CT ,„arr,ag., ha,| entitled her, |,e considere,! it be best that .ho »houh t c.n.e i„ eontact ^^ tl. her former ae.piaintanccs. Ihs. MMK-r's latent e„er«y was roused : 'ao,|„ai„,a„ce.,'i,„l,.,..r, "■l.en I,„ her own fathers o>vn .sister! „„d pray, what does he call th.u,, I w„„.|,.rr JJut there, least said is soone:,t n.ended. I ,I„„'t .,„„ po.e David w,ll ever forgive ,„e, hut I dare s'y ■t wd all cotne right son.e time or other. Pris I'a^ Pen'y of sense (when she con.es to her sen.se.s!), and perhaps after all it will turn out well for her-though I don't say hut Mint .,1.0 ■as heen underhand and deeeitful, and I have to bear all the blame!" Would it 'eome ri-ht?' A\ hat of the lengthened years of disappoint- nieut, sorrow, and suspense? m i"n!i. |».'i8M ari.l CIIAPTKR ir. LINKS. fcS*^^ ^^'« two o'clock train from the South (.'y) some of her recent d<.incs at Nuthui-st. "And now," said Lisa, "you have cou-.e back to help mcther, and learn as much as you can." "Yes, Miss Lisa," gravely responded the little girl. "I have missed you every Sunday," con- I'inue.l Lisa, " for the chass did not seem the same without my fidgety Two-Sl.m's: what did you do with yourself on Sunday afternoon at Nuthurst ? " «' Oil," said Nellie, "I used to learn my verses first, those you marked for me in your letter, you know; ar.d then, if it was tine, Aunt Judith let me are all tliese," said Nellie's teacher! ^'Thcy are splendid, and I know already what I shall do with thein. You want to hear. I can see. Well, to-morrow afternoon I am invited to 8t. Margaret's H«.spital, where Sister Maud, a friend of mine, is living, and I shall take your flowers to give the patients in her ward. They Avil! like them so much, and I will be sure to tell you what they say. Now, dear, I think mother will be wanting her litcle girl, so run home as fast as you can." "Good-bye, my own darling ]\riss Lisa," and off trotted Nellie, swinging l,er empty basket. Si.ring brightness is not reliable; next day the sun Avas sulkily invisible, and dark masses of cloud obscured the grey sky. The wind had veered round to the south-west; at Nutliurst, it was "blowing in anger from the distant sea," with an eerie sound of approaching storm. Here, in London, it alternati.'ly moaned and raged, and people hurried along the streets without Toitering at the shop-windows. Sister Maud's little .sanctmu was snug and cheerful enough, thouTlit Lisa The Mmion of the Daffodils. *^5 Oatby. as she received her friend's welcome and was ^ensonced by her in a low ba.sket-cliair. These two were friends of long standing; they ha.l been schoolfellows of the constant sort, and were firndy attached. A meeting between them was now of rare occurrence, and possibly was thp more highly prized in conseciuence. ISIaud Havcombe looked upon St. Margaret's as her l.ou.e, having lost both parents since her appomt- inent to the ' Basil ' Ward ; and her only brother beinr settled in Canada, she felt perfectly free to take\ip this, which she instinctively knew to be her life's work. She and Lisa were not of the san.e mind on many points. Maud was a High Church woman by early training and from personal choice; but with her the Substance was more than the Shadows, which, hr>wever, she believed brought out in stronger relief the great truths of the Revealed Word. Lisa on the other hand, belonged to the opposite extreme of the Established Church, but both souls met at the One Centre of Light. It w IS always an interest to Lisa when Maud taUvLMl of her work and of the varying cases continually passing in and out of her ward : some, t,> ,,turn^ home in re-established health, others I I 20 Dcjfs Corner; or, to join the quiet sleepers who would never know more of eartlily joys and friefs. " I li.ive lia.l several fresh patients in just lately, Lisa; one interests me greatly, but yuu will see what she is for yourself, when you dis- tribute your flowers. I expect her time here will be long and tedious, for the painful disease she IS sufferin,-,r h\m\ appears to have been aggravated by mental troub^^ She will not spc^il more than is absolutely necessary, so that I know little beyond "■ u- name. But will you like to go in at once, before our early t(3a ? " The 'Basil' Ward was lofty and spacious, with long, narrow windows at either end. The wails were coloured light blue, to which idtersecting crimson lines gave a warm glow. Idlest of the be