OUR HOME BIRDS. 
9 
governess did not approve of very close application 
for them ; but what they learned under her tuition 
they thoroughly understood. Not very much had 
been attempted yet, but Miss Harson had revolved 
various plans in her mind, and especially for the 
study of natural history, when this morning’s events 
brought matters to a crisis. 
It was a delightful room in which the young teacher 
and her pupils were assembled on that bright spring 
morning, although it was called the schoolroom ; and 
Elmridge was a delightful place. The house stood 
on a sort of slope that seemed to rise up like a back- 
bone from the midst of the country about it, and there 
were grand elms around the mansion — trees where, 
judging from the sounds on summer mornings, all 
the birds known to fame appeared to reside ; so the 
name of Elmridge was probably as good a one as 
could be found. 
The house was roomy, with a grand veranda, a 
fine garden and conservatory ; and lovely views were 
to be had from all the windows. The little Kyles 
had plenty of room to become strong and healthy 
children, and until their dear mother’s death their 
own home had always seemed to them pleasanter 
than any other place. Their ages were six, eight, and 
ten, and Malcolm w r as the oldest. 
But Miss Harson’s question has not been answered 
