‘Mamma,’ said the little Venetia, ‘is this spring?’

‘This is spring, my child,’ replied Lady Annabel, ’beautiful spring!  The year is young and happy, like my little girl.’

‘If Venetia be like the spring, mamma is like the summer!’ replied the child; and the mother smiled.  ‘And is not the summer young and happy?’ resumed Venetia.

‘It is not quite so young as the spring,’ said Lady Annabel, looking down with fondness on her little companion, ’and, I fear, not quite so happy.’

‘But it is as beautiful,’ said Venetia.

‘It is not beauty that makes us happy,’ said Lady Annabel; ’to be happy, my love, we must be good.’

‘Am I good?’ said Venetia.

‘Very good,’ said Lady Annabel

‘I am very happy,’ said Venetia; ’I wonder whether, if I be always good, I shall always be happy?’

’You cannot be happy without being good, my love; but happiness depends upon the will of God.  If you be good he will guard over you.’

‘What can make me unhappy, mamma?’ inquired Venetia.

‘An evil conscience, my love.’

‘Conscience!’ said Venetia:  ‘what is conscience?’

‘You are not yet quite old enough to understand,’ said Lady Annabel, ’but some day I will teach you.  Mamma is now going to take a long walk, and Venetia shall walk with her.’

So saying, the Lady Annabel summoned Mistress Pauncefort, a gentlewoman of not more discreet years than might have been expected in the attendant of so young a mistress; but one well qualified for her office, very zealous and devoted, somewhat consequential, full of energy and decision, capable of directing, fond of giving advice, and habituated to command.  The Lady Annabel, leading her daughter, and accompanied by her faithful bloodhound, Marmion, ascended one of those sloping vistas that we have noticed, Mistress Pauncefort following them about a pace behind, and after her a groom, at a respectful distance, leading Miss Herbert’s donkey.

They soon entered a winding path through the wood which was the background of their dwelling.  Lady Annabel was silent, and lost in her reflections; Venetia plucked the beautiful wild hyacinths that then abounded in the wood in such profusion, that their beds spread like patches of blue enamel, and gave them to Mistress Pauncefort, who, as the collection increased, handed them over to the groom; who, in turn, deposited them in the wicker seat prepared for his young mistress.  The bright sun bursting through the tender foliage of the year, the clear and genial air, the singing of the birds, and the wild and joyous exclamations of Venetia, as she gathered her flowers, made it a cheerful party, notwithstanding the silence of its mistress.