t for the sugar, quite restored to good
humor.

"Now, I'll go out and get sister and you shall have some more sugar."

Violet came in quite willingly. She sat on the floor with them and
thought of the stories she used to tell. This one was about a runaway
squirrel. It grew dark and he was afraid, for he heard a queer noise
that kept saying, "Who--who," so he ran another way. Then a dog
barked, and Marilla made the sound of a dog and both babies laughed
delightedly. "So he ran as fast as he could but the dog ran, too, and
the squirrel climbed up in a tree," and Marilla climbed with her hands
on the back of the chair in a funny fashion. "'Come down,' said the
dog. 'I won't,' said the squirrel. 'Then I'll climb up and eat you.'
But the squirrel laughed and said: 'You can't climb a tree.'"

The babies laughed, too, but Violet wanted to be "wocked" again. She
really was sleepy. So Marilla put them both in the rocking chair and
began another story about a bird who had three little babies in a nest
and had to go out and get them something to eat. The ladies came back
and Violet began to nod and let her eyes droop.

"They must go to bed," said their mother.

It was supposed that Pansy would make a protest. She slipped down out
of the chair and held out her fat little hand, murmuring--"Illa,
Illa."

"Well, Illa shall put you to bed, come Violet."

Mrs Borden found their nighties. "Me too," and Violet took hers over
to Marilla.

"Now, isn't that cunning? Marilla they are getting back all their old
love for you! But it is time I had a little rest."

The babies were safely deposited in their crib, each with a thumb in
her mouth, a rather recent habit. Then they went out on the porch
again. Jack was there with his chum, Stevie. The ladies joined the
procession up and down the board walk. Stevie was recounting some
wonderful experience, so Marilla dropped into a chair and her mind
went back to last Sunday night. How long ago it seemed!

Stevie was summoned home by his nurse. Quite a party went to the kind
of sacred concert. Jack crawled up beside Marilla, for he was getting
sleepy. When she proposed he should go to bed he turned obstinate and
held on tight to the arm of the chair.

"I won't go to bed. I'm going to stay here until mama comes."

"Oh, you must. The clocks have struck eight."

"But I'm not going to." He caught the arm of the chair. "You try now
and I'll kick you with my hind leg."

She knew well enough