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VIVIAN’S LESSON

[Illustration: They made such a pretty picture that there was quite a
burst of applause.

V. L. PAGE 33.]





VIVIAN’S LESSON

    By
    ELIZABETH W. GRIERSON
    Author of
    ‘Children’s Tales from Scottish Ballads,’
    ‘The Children’s Book of Edinburgh,’ &c.


    WITH TEN ILLUSTRATIONS
    by
    Hilda Cowham


[Illustration]


    LONDON AND EDINBURGH
    W. & R. CHAMBERS, LIMITED
    Philadelphia: J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY
    1907




    Edinburgh:
    Printed by W. & R. Chambers, Limited.




CONTENTS.


    CHAPTER                                      PAGE
        I. WHAT BEGAN IT                            1
       II. AN INVITATION                           11
      III. GOING TO LONDON                         19
       IV. THE CHRISTMAS TREE                      29
        V. A FALSE STEP                            40
       VI. A GAME OF HIDE-AND-SEEK                 54
      VII. ANOTHER INVITATION                      70
     VIII. THE BROKEN WINDOWS                      80
       IX. THE MAN IN THE SUMMER-HOUSE             92
        X. BURGLARS                               103
       XI. THE DOCTOR’S VISIT                     121
      XII. THE DARK SHADOW                        135
     XIII. A DREARY HOMECOMING                    156
      XIV. VIVIAN CONQUERS                        166
       XV. ANOTHER MYSTERY                        179
      XVI. A VAIN SEARCH                          193
     XVII. MADAME GENVIÈVE                        203
    XVIII. RUNNING AWAY                           214
      XIX. THE JOURNEY                            223
       XX. MONSIEUR THE VICOMTE DE CHOISIGNY      236
      XXI. THE OPINION OF DR JULES                245
     XXII. MR MAXWELL FINDS OUT THE TRUTH         254
    XXIII. A HAPPY MEETING                        265
     XXIV. A FRESH BEGINNING                      277
      XXV. WESTWARD HO!                           285




LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.


                                                                PAGE
    They made such a pretty picture that there was
          quite a burst of applause                    _Frontispiece._

    They were a merry party as they walked across
          the snowy meadow to church                              17

    The children set to work and transformed the
          hall into a perfect bower                               29

    ‘But what is that bundle of rags for?’ went on
          Vivian, putting up his hand to pull them
          down                                                    59

    Isobel lay down with a story-book on the
          schoolroom sofa, and soon fell into a
          heavy sleep                                             64

    There, to his horror, looking through the gap,
          was a rough-looking man, with a stubbly
          beard, and a dirty white muffler twisted
          loosely round his neck                                  92

    At last a tiny red speck appeared under the yellow
          lamp, and began to move slowly up the road             162

    ‘Thou lazy dreamer!’ she said, pulling him to his
          feet by the collar of his blue cotton blouse           205

    He sank gratefully into the soft bed of straw
          which the kind countryman made up for him,
          and had fallen into a feverish sleep                   231

    ‘Mother, oh mother!’ he cried.... ‘Can you forgive me?’      266




VIVIAN’S LESSON.




CHAPTER I.

WHAT BEGAN IT.


‘COME on, Vivian. It is high time we were going home; you know we
promised mother that we would come off the ice at half-past four.’

‘Well, so we will; but it is only five-and-twenty past now, so we
have plenty of time for one turn more. Come on, old stupid; you are
always frightened of being late;’ and the younger of the speakers, a
brown-eyed, mischievous-looking lad of about eleven, swung off with
his three companions, leaving his brother standing watching them, a
troubled look on his face.

He hated to make a fuss, and he did not want to leave the ice a moment
sooner than he could help; but a promise is a promise, and he had
given his word that they would be ready to leave the pond at the
half-hour. It was later than they were generally allowed to stay; but
it was Saturday afternoon, and there were signs of a thaw, so, as the
ice might not last till Monday, their