und from the larger room next door, where
Madeleine slept beside the nurse. No one was awake but Fifine, and
again, and again came that pitiful mew. Yes, it was a mew, and up jumped
Fifine at last.

The _cure_ had sat up late that evening, reading, his window open to the
pleasant night-air. He closed his book at last, and was turning to put
out the lamp, when a little sound made him look round. There, at the low
window, stood a little white-robed, bare-footed figure, sobbing
bitterly.

"Oh, sir, oh, sir, come and let Mimi out. I shut her into the
tool-house, because I thought she had told you about my hitting
Madeleine, and I can't get her out, and she will die of hunger--my poor
Mimi--since yesterday morning she has had nothing to eat, and nobody is
awake but you. I have come all alone in the dark. I forgot all about
her," and the sobs redoubled.

In five minutes the kind _cure_ had managed to open the door which the
gardener had locked, and Mimi was safe in Fifine's arms.

"And suppose it was _not_ Mimi who told me?" said the good old man as he
carried the little girl home again.

"I _was_ naughty, but I didn't mean to leave Mimi all day. You said it
was a little bird, sir, but I know that is only baby-talk."

"Yes, my child, and I am sorry I did not tell you who it really was. It
was your dear mamma, my Fifine, who overheard your fit of temper and
asked me to speak to you seriously. Will this be a lesson to you? See
what angry temper leads to--hurting your sister, and nearly killing your
poor cat."

"Forgive me, I will try to be better; indeed I will," sobbed Fifine.

"And ask God to help you, my dear little girl," said the kind _cure_, as
he bade her good-night.

[Illustration]

THE LONG LADDER.

[Illustration]

The sun had set, and the deep blue darkness of a summer night was
creeping over the sky. One by one the stars came out, and little Max
stood by the window gazing up at them in admiration. He had never before
seen so many, for it was long past his usual bed-time, and he had been
allowed to sit up late for a great treat, as it was his birthday. Inside
the room his mother was reading by a little table on which stood a lamp,
but the curtains were drawn across the windows, and Max had crept behind
them, so that the bright light inside did not prevent his seeing the
infinitely brighter ones, that up there, millions and millions of miles
away, came sparkling out one after the other, as if th