ys are

afte

pril's

eads t

d

follo

June

could sto

Ju

t Little Staunton, and Aunt Marjorie thought it well

dows under her eyes were not so marked as yesterday, her firm little lips had an expression of extreme and touch

lls fussed with the fire, went to the window to look out

is year," said the governe

curiosities. There was no shadow of any sorrow on Babs' se

hick piece of india-rubber lay by her side. For over an hour she had been drawing industri

rest-she'll soon be as well as possible. I'll g

th the person whom she so cordially hated-she had not heard from him for nearly a month, and thought that the present would be a

were alone. When this happened, Judy threw down her penc

ot troubling herself to turn her face, but

o softly?"

and I know you do. She said you was as happy as the day is long, and I said

night. I didn't think you'd be so awfully mean. I am ill now, and Aunt Maggie would do anything for m

tones. "You may sob so that you may be heard down in the drawing r

old

animal with last autum

arwig. Do let me see the knife,

just under all the peacock's feathers. Wa

s sticking in the wood and couldn't get out, poor darling, but my dear lit

ing. "I think earwigs are such swee

h, yes, I love them special becaus

ng, Judy? What a qu

live,'" said Judy, "but I haven't finished it

ks," replied Babs. "I has

ars, you mean

ut of her cheeks, her eyes looked hollow, t

ie, puffing with the haste she had used, but trying

she said, "I have ve

lushing and paling alm

, very nice news. Your d

t Ma

at ten to-night.' Why, my darling, how white you are! Babs, run and fetch

uch, much better. I a

eyes; her little thin hand trembled, she

have the teleg

ken-broth. Just the thing to set you up. Drink it off, dear. Miss Mills, our swee

forget that there are no horses in the stabl

e. "I must send a message to Step

is over," answered Miss Mills. "Ah, Judy!

icious chicken-broth! Auntie dear, stoop

dearie, w

you? I'll promise to be so quiet, I won't make a sound to disturb Babs, but I should

well, anything to soothe you. We'll see how you keep, dearie. If you don't get at all excited, I-I'll see what I shall do. Now I mu

s Mills started on her walk to the village

world. Oh, think of kissing Hilda again; and I didn't fret, no, I didn't-not really. Babs, don't you thin

ke, and taking out china dogs, cats, cocks and hens, ducks, giraffes, elephants, monkeys, and many other varieties of the animal world, bestowed them with what taste she could mana

is not half ready yet. I want you to pin some of my drawings and some o

he room pretty for Hilda, and you ordering me. You ma

putting that pictur

unny! Is t

awfully

perintended, giving sharp criticisms and ordering the

imed. "You must go out to the garden,

o out," said Babs, "and

hat when you think about Hilda. I know where there are violets, white and blue, on that south bank after you pass the shrubbery; you

roses on her cheeks, and eyes like two faintly shining stars, and smiles coming and go

unt Marjorie? Is it real

our Hilda will be back, if the train is punctual, by ten o'clock. How wonderfully well you lo

ll, only-I hope Jas

one of the family, and we must welcome him as such-but between ourselves, just for no one else to

ound Aunt Marjorie's neck

you said," she whispered

ts lay in a tiny bowl on the little table by Judy's bed. The rumble of wheels was heard

nt. "No, of course, it is the doctor. He w

lse of his little patient, looked into her ey

't she?" asked Aunt Marjorie,

reason she is extremely excited. What is she sitting up in bed f

you, my niece, Mrs. Quentyns, is expected

ittle patient. What time is Mr

nd if I had insisted on her trying to go to sleep, she w

e Mrs. Quentyns will be punctual. As soon as ever she comes, the child must settle to sleep. Give her a