how was she ever to leave it for a moment in safety? Then the
thought flashed across her that father would be at home to-morrow, and
she would no longer have to take care of the hidden treasure. In the
meantime Robin had stolen up to the stranger's side, and after closely
considering her for some moments, he stroked her hand with his own
small fingers.

'I thought you were mother, I did,' he said. 'It's my birthday to-day.'

For one instant the girl looked at him with a smile in her sunken eyes,
and then she lifted him on to her lap, and laid her face upon his curly
head, sobbing bitterly.

'Little Meg,' she said, 'your mother spoke kind to me once, and now
she's dead and gone. I wonder why I wasn't took instead o' her?'

Meg's tender heart closed itself no longer against the stranger. She
got up from her seat, and crossing the floor to the fireside, she put
the baby down by Robin on her lap.

'You didn't ought to go into a person's room without asking leave,' she
said; 'but if you'll hold baby for me, I'll soon get tea. I've got a
little real tea left, and father 'll buy some more to-morrow. You mind
the children till it's ready.'

It was soon ready, and they drank and ate together, with few words.
Meg was intent upon getting her weary children to bed as soon as
possible, and after it was over she undressed them at once. Before
Robin got into bed she addressed the girl hesitatingly.

'Robbie always says his prayers aloud to me,' she said; 'you won't
mind, will you?'

'Go on,' answered the girl, with a sob.

'Robbie,' said Meg, as he knelt at her knee, with his hands held up
between both her hands, 'Robbie, it's your birthday to-day; and if I
was you I'd ask God for something more than other days. I'd ask Him to
bless everybody as well as us if I was you. If everybody was good,
it'd be so nice.'

'Yes, Meg,' replied Robin promptly, closing his black eyes before he
began his prayer. 'Pray God, bless father on the big sea, and bless
me, and Meg, and baby, and take care of us all. Pray God, bless
everybody, 'cept the devil. Amen.'

But Robin did not get up from his knees. He dropped his head upon
Meg's lap, and when she moved he cried, 'Stop a minute!' Meg waited
patiently until he lifted up his face again, and shutting his eyes very
tightly, said, 'Pray God, bless everybody, and the devil, and make him
a good man. Amen.'

'Robbie,' said Meg mournfully, 'I don't think the devil can be made