Page:Leah Reed--Brenda's summer at Rockley.djvu/274

256 marked it with a tablet of wood, painted white and neatly lettered. Eliza was almost as fond of Prince as I was. Ever since I came here I have been going to bed at about half-past eight, and rising at six. That is the way in the country. Eliza’s brother gets up at dawn, and breakfasts at some unheard-of hour. That’s why country people look so much older than they are. They get more time into a year than most of us do. The other day I went to a sewing-circle tea-party. In some ways it was rather funny. I ’ll not try to tell you until I see you just what it was like. I am glad that I brought some books with me, for I have unlimited  time for reading. I go out to a field that rises up back of the house, on one side of which is a little pine grove. There, in the shade, I am perfectly happy and comfortable until Eliza comes along and tries to do something for my  entertainment. I am rather glad they are haying now; otherwise, I should have to drive all the time. This warm weather it is so much pleasanter to sit still and read. That reminds me of the reading class. I hope that you did write to Amy. I did not like to myself, for fear you would think me officious. Of course I do not know her as well as you do, but still I feel as if she might wonder what had become  of us. If you haven’t written to her, you will, won’t you? I suppose that you are having a perfectly beautiful time at Manchester. Give my love to Edith. What fun we shall have at the wedding! To think that it is only two weeks off! Affectionately, .

Now if Julia had been able to go farther into details in her letter, she might have told—but no, her modesty  would never have let her tell—of many things that she  had been able to do for Eliza and the young nieces and