fright if I got away from God. Do tell me I couldn't."

Milly had stopped short, and grasped hold of Sir Edward's coat in her
growing excitement. He glanced at her flushed cheeks and sparkling eyes.

"You foolish child, there is no fear of your getting away from God.
Don't be so excitable. We will change the subject. I want to see
Maxwell, so we will go through the wood."

Maxwell was Sir Edward's head game-keeper, and a little later found them
at his pretty cottage at the edge of the wood. It was Milly's first
visit, and Mrs. Maxwell, a motherly-looking body, greeted her with such
a sunshiny smile that the child drew near to her instinctively.

"What a lovely room," she exclaimed, looking round the homely little
kitchen with a child's admiring eyes, "and what a beautiful cat! May I
stroke her?"

Assent being given, Milly was soon seated in a large cushioned chair, a
fat tabby cat on her lap, and while Sir Edward was occupied with his
keeper she was making fast friends with the wife.

"Uncle Edward," she said, when they had taken their leave and were
walking homewards, "Mrs. Maxwell has asked me to go to tea with her
to-morrow. May I--all by myself?"

"Ask your nurse; I have no objection."

"I should love to live in her house," continued the child eagerly; "it
is all among the trees, and I love trees. And this wood is so lovely.