Page:Zodiac stories by Blanche Mary Channing.pdf/206

Rh blushed, and looked down. Mrs. Vaughn rose suddenly.

"I am going out to see those handsome shrubs," she said; "No—don't come with me, Ellie: I want you to stay here."

Ellie looked beseechingly after her, but she went away, and left the two children together.

Bertrand understood that she did it on purpose, thinking that her little daughter would be more at her ease if thrown on her own resources; and he smiled. Then he held out his hand.

"Come here and tell me the names of these flowers in English," he said. "My English is so poor—I want to learn some more."

Ellie went to him, and began to talk in her own natural way, quite forgetting to be shy, and Bertrand lay back among his cushions, watching her happily and listening delightedly to her voice, whether he understood what she said or not. When