342 THE MANSE AND ITS INMATES- 



parable loss to all who knew her, was sweetened by the conviction 

 that it was unspeakable gain to her." 



Lily and her mother were both silent a few minutes ; at lenglli 

 Lily resumed the subject. "And my brothers — they have each two 

 names : Niel John, and Kenneth David.'' 



"Yes, Niel was called after both his grandfathers, and Kenneth 

 after your papa's kind friend and patron, Sir Kenneth Maitland, and 

 himself." 



" And Niel, mamma, may almost be said to be named after Sir 

 John Maitland too.'' 



"He may, my dear, as your papa's attachment to Sir John, then 

 Mr. Maitland, was one inducement for giving him two names. The 

 principal one was that my father was then in delicate health, and 

 your papa was anxious to pay him that mark of respect, without de- 

 viating from the established custom of his family. You know that 

 your papa sometimes tells us that Niel and David have alternated in 

 it during- fourteen g-enerations." 



" Yes, that's when papa's very highland indeed.'' 



" And David was added to Kenneth at my request." 



" That was lucky, mamma ; as we have no more brothers, we should 

 have had no David otherwise. But, why does papa dislike a person 

 having two names?" 



" He does not dislike it, but he loves simplicity, and prefers only 

 one." 



" Well, mamma, I can't, with all my pains, get accustomed to these 

 strange names. When I say to myself, Caroline and Matilda, it 

 seems to me as if I was speaking of queens and princesses, or of peo- 

 ple in pictures or books, and not of my own cousins, with whom I 

 am to live, and talk, and play, every day. I never knew any one 

 with such fine names before." 



" You know the lyre-woman at Larch-hills, Lily?" 



" Old Mattie Muckersy, mamma ? Oh, yes mamma. What cowW 

 make you think of poor old Mattie, with her lame leg, which makes 

 her hop so, and her broken nose, and her terrible squint, when we 

 were talking of fine names ?" 



" Because she has a fine name, Matilda !" 



" Matilda ! I always thought her name had been only Mattie." 



" She is always called Mattie, as you are called Lily ; but she was 

 christened Matilda, as you was christened Lilias." 



" Well, that's very droll. Matilda Muckersy ! I wonder if I may 

 call my cousin Mattie; it would not be strange to me at all." 



" But it would to her, and perhaps disagreeable. You will soon 

 be familiarized both to your cousins and their names." 



" I dare say I shall. And now, mamma, I must let you go, for I see 



{rou won't stay any longer. Poor old Mattie ! Well, she's not the 

 east bit in the world like a queen or a princess either. Matilda Muc- 

 kersy! What two funny names to come together !" 



(To be continued. J 



