Cousin Helen.

237

COUSIN HELEN;

OR,

LOOK BEYOND THE SURFACE.

BY MRS. GEORGE CUPPLES,

AUTHOR OF MISS MATTY,' 'THE LITTLE CAPTAIN,' ETC.

CHAPTER I.

WONDER what she will be like ?' said Grace Clayton, as she stood before the looking - glass, brushing her hair, and tying a broad band of velvet across it. 'I do hope she is nice-looking, and not countrified. I hate countrified girls.'

'You'll know in a very few minutes, Miss Grace,' said nurse; but if you don't be quick, you will never be in time to meet her at the station, and that won't be kind. It isn't often a cousin comes from such a distance to visit you.'

'Oh, what's the use of hurrying to meet her?' said Fred, a boy about eight years of age, who was engaged teasing a little terrier. 'I can't bear strange girls; and if it wasn't that papa is with her, I wouldn't go down at all.'

'Neither would I,' said Robert, who was a little older than Fred. 'Girls are perfect nuisances; and Cousin Helen is sure to be, for she hasn't only prevented mamma from asking Cousin George and Edith, but it seems she does nothing but read books, and is awfully clever.'

'I don't mind about that,' said Grace, if she has nice manners, and is nice-looking.'

'Ah, Miss Grace,' said nurse, I fear these new friends of yours, the Miss Osbornes, are not doing you any

good. You never used to have your head so full of these notions. It used to be the good companions, not the nice-looking, you liked most.'

"They are horrible girls these Osbornes,' said Robert; 'they give themselves such airs. Their own brothers say that ever since they went to London to school, they think of nothing but their dress; and they won't play with them, or do one single thing for their mamma. I wonder who and what they are though: I don't think they can be very rich with all their fine clothes.'

They are very nice girls indeed,' said Grace, angrily ; ' and they must be rich, for Maud has a gold watch, and Lizzie is to have one next year, though she is two years younger than I am. Oh, how I wish papa would give

me a watch!'

Any further conversation was put an end to by the entrance of Mrs. Clayton, who came to ask if the children were ready to go with her to the station. Mrs. Clayton was very delicate, and it was not often she went farther than the garden. Only when she expected some particular visitor did she venture so far as the station. 'Oh, mamma, are you going?' cried Robert, running for his cap. Please, may I have your right arm?' 'And me your left?' cried Fred. And me one too?' said little Hugh. It was a great event to go out with their mamma, the occasion being so rare, so that there was always a slight disturbance who was to have the privilege of walking by her side. On the way down they talked a good deal about the little cousin who was coming to pay them a visit; and Mrs. Clayton took the opportunity of telling her children how much she wished that they would be kind to her, for she was not only an orphan, but she had never lived with children of her own, or any age, and might be nervous at the sight of so many wild cousins. Besides, she was not very strong, and had never lived with strangers before; but it was hoped that the strong sea air would strengthen her much. The very fact of their mother going to meet their cousin, showed that she

was to be regarded as a very particular guest; but Grace, who always wanted to know the why and the wherefore of everything, now said, 'But why are you so anxious about Cousin Helen, mamma? You never asked us to be kind to Edith; and she was delicate too, for you remember she was just recovering from the measles.'

'Ah, Cousin Edith was different; there was nothing peculiar about her a bright, happy little girl; but Cousin Helen, dear, is neither bright nor playful, but quiet and reserved beyond her years, and you may not understand her just at first, and so take a dislike to her. Now, I am anxious that this should not happen; for grandmamma and the doctors are afraid that Helen has lived too quiet a life at the Grange, and must be roused out of it. Now I am sure you will do everything in your power to help to make her strong.'

'Oh, how I wish she was not to come; what a bore she will be!' said Fred, stoutly; but seeing how his mamma's face clouded, he hastened to say, 'Oh, but if you wish us to be kind to her, mamma, of course we shall.'

'I do wish it, Master Fred,' replied his mother, smiling. I hope, by the end of Helen's visit, you will like her for her own sake. But come, there is the train entering the station.'

They at once hurried forward, and the boys were not long in discovering their papa, who was helping out a little girl dressed in mourning. Such a queer, oldfashioned, pale little face it was that looked up into Grace's, that looked all the paler when contrasted with the healthy cheek of the latter !

'I

'You are my Cousin Grace, are you not?' Helen said. 'Yes, I guessed at once you were,' she continued, when Grace had replied in the affirmative. have heard from our Aunt Mary about you; but I did not expect to find you so much taller than I am, for we are just the same age, you know.' She passed on to make friends with little Hugh, who, after looking her