e.
Oh! they's fine children, I don't care what you say; and Louise is the
flock of the flower. She is like Miss Zelie, with her dark eyes and
shinin' hair."

"Miss Zelie herself sets more store by Carl than any of the rest,"
said Mandy, coming to the door.

"That's cause he favors his ma's family and has a look like his uncle
Carl. You know Miss Zelie married Miss Elinor's brother. He used to
come here for his holidays when she was a little girl no bigger 'n
Bess,--that was after Mr. Frank married Miss Elinor,--and they was
always great friends. It looks like it's mighty strange that Miss
Elinor and Mr. Carl should be taken, and old Sukey left."

There was silence for a minute; then as Sukey wiped her eyes she
continued, "I've nursed 'em all from Mr. William down, and I knows old
master's grandchildren is bound to turn out right."

It was almost sunset when Aunt Zelie--tall and fair, like Bess's
favorite heroines--came and stood in the front door, wondering where
the children were. She was not left long in doubt, for hardly had she
settled herself to enjoy the pleasant air when there was a sudden rush
from somewhere and she was surrounded by a laughing, breathless little
company. The outlaws of the morning were scarcely to be recognized.
Little John and the sheriff of Nottingham were attired in the freshest
of white dresses, with pink bows on their Gretchen braids, while Robin
and the Friar were disguised as a pair of bright-faced modern boys,
and with them was little Helen, a dignified person of eight, who
carried a doll in her arms.

"Auntie, did you know that somebody is coming to live in the Brown
house?" Louise asked, as they drew their chairs as close as possible
to hers. At this time in the day she was their own special property,
though there _were_ people who complained that they always monopolized
her.

"Yes, your father heard that a relative of old Mrs. Brown's was going
to take the house, but that is all I know," she answered.

"Carl and Ikey saw a cross-looking woman with a feather duster. I do
hope there will be some nice children," said Bess.

"All boys," Carl added briefly.

"Boys? No, indeed! Girls are much nicer, aren't they, Ikey?" and
Louise looked at him mischievously over her shoulder.

Ikey's shyness or his politeness, perhaps both, would not allow him to
reply.

"They are both nice when they are nice," said Aunt Zelie. "Being a
girl myself, of course I like girls, and so does this i