404 A HERALD, NOT OF SPUING. 



the grass-plot opposite. It was one of my poor little cousin's 

 most indifferent days ; she seemed very dull, and I saw, though 

 I would not appear to heed it, that while we were looking at 

 the cypress the tears were quivering on her long eye-lashes. 

 To divert her, I pointed out on the window-pane a pair of 

 those pretty little hardy insects, known as midges, or Psyckodts, 

 now traversing the glass in their singular sidling manner, now 

 flitting lightly from diamond to diamond of the leaded case- 

 ment. In following their movements my eye fell upon another 

 insect object a herald moth a herald of winter, which, as it 

 rested on the window-frame, bore something of the appearance 

 of a triangular painted shield. Of such a shield " the Herald 3 

 had often reminded me ; but somehow, as I was looking at it 

 then, I thought also of the hatchments suspended in our 

 church. Just as the comparison had struck me, there came a 

 ring at the garden-gate a ring low and half-fearful, as if the 

 bell were pulled by a timid or unwilling hand. Keeper barked 

 loudly ; but it seemed to me as if there was more of recog- 

 nition than of anger in his voice. AVe just saw the top of a 

 hat a gentleman's hat above the close high gate. " It's 

 papa!" cried Lucy "it must be papa!' 3 Dolly's stocking 

 fell from her hand ; but she sat still she couldn't, or she 

 didn't dare to move. I said nothing ; but my heart beat 

 violently when, after a short parley at the gate, I saw who it 

 was that entered and approached the house. It was my father, 

 and he had come to bring at length news of my uncle news 



