404 A HERALD, NOT OF SPRING. 



which stood on 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 Psycliodce, now traversing the glass in their singu- 

 lar sidling manner, now flitting lightly from diamond to diamond 

 of the leaded casement. 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 " had often reminded me ; but somehow, as 

 I was looking at it then, I thought also of the hatchments sus- 

 pended 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 re- 

 cognition than of anger in his voice. We j ust saw the top of 

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

 papa!" cried Lucy "it must be papa!" 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 



