‘Did you ever live at any place before you came to Cherbury?’ inquired Lord Cadurcis of Venetia.

‘I know I was not born here,’ said Venetia; ’but I was so young that I have no recollection of any other place.’

‘And did any one live here before you came?’ said Plantagenet.

‘I do not know,’ said Venetia; ‘I never heard if anybody did.  I, I,’ she continued, a little constrained, ‘I know nothing.’

‘Do you remember your papa?’ said Plantagenet.

‘No,’ said Venetia.

’Then he must have died almost as soon as you were born, said Lord Cadurcis.

‘I suppose he must,’ said Venetia, and her heart trembled.

‘I wonder if he ever lived here!’ said Plantagenet.

‘Mamma does not like me to ask questions about my papa,’ said Venetia, ‘and I cannot tell you anything.’

‘Ah! your papa was different from mine, Venetia,’ said Cadurcis; ’my mother talks of him often enough.  They did not agree very well; and, when we quarrel, she always says I remind her of him.  I dare say Lady Annabel loved your papa very much.’

‘I am sure mamma did,’ replied Venetia.

The children returned to the drawing-room, and joined their friends:  Mrs. Cadurcis was sitting on the sofa, occasionally dozing over a sermon; Dr. Masham was standing with Lady Annabel in the recess of a distant window.  Her ladyship’s countenance was averted; she was reading a newspaper, which the Doctor had given her.  As the door opened, Lady Annabel glanced round; her countenance was agitated; she folded up the newspaper rather hastily, and gave it to the Doctor.

‘And what have you been doing, little folks?’ inquired the Doctor of the new comers.

‘We have been playing at the history of Rome,’ said Venetia, ’and now that we have conquered every place, we do not know what to do.’

‘The usual result of conquest,’ said the Doctor, smiling.

’This snowstorm is a great trial for you; I begin to believe that, after all, you would be more pleased to take your holidays at another opportunity.’

‘We could amuse ourselves very well,’ said Plantagenet, ’if Lady Annabel would be so kind as to permit us to explore the part of the house that is shut up.’

‘That would be a strange mode of diversion,’ said Lady Annabel, quietly, ’and I do not think by any means a suitable one.  There cannot be much amusement in roaming over a number of dusty unfurnished rooms.’

‘And so nicely dressed as you are too!’ said Mrs. Cadurcis, rousing herself:  ‘I wonder how such an idea could enter your head!’

‘It snows harder than ever,’ said Venetia; ’I think, after all, I shall learn my French vocabulary.’

‘If it snows to-morrow,’ said Plantagenet, ’we will do our lessons as usual.  Holidays, I find, are not so amusing as I supposed.’

The snow did continue, and the next day the children voluntarily suggested that they should resume their usual course of life.  With their mornings occupied, they found their sources of relaxation ample; and in the evening they acted plays, and Lady Annabel dressed them up in her shawls, and Dr. Masham read Shakspeare to them.