Our Gentleman Boarder 



" Sprlght, Sprlght ! " I called, in a loud 

 whisper. " Is he melancholy ?" and I cut 

 a caper. 



'' My eye, ain't 'e, tho' ! " said Sprightly, 

 and passed out of sight with an outrageous 

 wink, without comprehending my question 

 in the least. 



" This, sir," I heard my Father's voice 

 saying, '' is my daughter Mary ; our house- 

 keeper, and I hope she'll make you com- 

 fortable here." 



I listened painfully outside the door to 

 catch the reply of the low-spirited gentle- 

 man. 



*' It is very good of you all to receive a 

 stranger into your midst, Miss Hyde," I 

 heard a pleasant voice say, and then I ven- 

 tured to enter and look at the victim of 

 melancholia. 



'' I hope, sir," said Mary, with a curtsey, 

 and small boy as I was, I felt that Mary 

 had very pretty manners, " that you will 

 find your visit a pleasant one, and that you 

 will enjoy our fine Brighton air. This is 

 our little brother Harry," she said, as she 

 noticed me, and she bade me show Mr. 

 Trevanion to his own room. Shy as I 

 was, I had made friends with this pleasant 

 ofentleman before we reached his door. 



Even in the course of that first evening 

 ii8 



