The Fortunes of Philippa

Which shows me all the more that it's time I sent you away," answered Father."Though it will strain my heart-strings to part with you, I own. It's such a splendidopportunity, too, when Madame Montpellier is returning to Paris and will takecharge of you on the voyage. No, Philippa child, I've quite made up my mind. You'reto go to England, and you'll please me best by taking it bravely, and trying to learnall you can in the years we must be apart from each other."We were sitting on the vine-covered terrace of our beautiful South Americanhome. Below us the bright flowers of our tropical garden shone a blaze of colouragainst the dark background of the lemon-trees; away to the right stretched thedazzling blue sea, with here and there the dark sail of a native fishing craft; while tothe left rose the white houses of the little Spanish town of San Carlos, with itspicturesque, Moorish-looking church and campanile, set in a frame of tall palmtrees, which led the eye over the long slopes of the coffee-plantations up the hillside to where the sharp peaks of the sierras towered like giants against thecloudless sky.