round the room on a
tour of investigation. Presently he paused before a table and remarked
earnestly, "Book."

"Can't you find a picture-book for him?" asked Mrs. Morrison.

There happened to be an old animal book in the box they were unpacking,
and, getting it out, Frances and the baby sat together on the new rug
and turned the leaves, the latter never failing to say, "ion," "effunt,"
"tiger," as the case might be, with unvarying correctness and great
enthusiasm.

In the midst of this there came a modest little tap at the door, and
when Mrs. Morrison opened it, there stood a girl of about Frances' age.
Her red calico dress was very fresh, her cheeks as rosy as the
infant's, and her flaxen hair was drawn tightly back and braided in a
long tail.

"Is the baby here?" she asked.

"No, no," came in decided tones from the visitor.

This made them all laugh, even the baby himself seeming to think it a
good joke.

"Can't he stay for a while? He is good, and we like to have him," said
Mrs. Morrison.

The girl hesitated; plainly the baby had no thought of leaving. "The
lady who used to have these rooms made a pet of him, and he is always
running off up here," she explained.

"I am glad he came, for my daughter and I were feeling lonely. Won't you
come in and sit down? Do you live in the house?"

The newcomer accepted Mrs. Morrison's invitation rather shyly, looking
as if she had a mind to carry the baby off by main force. Her name, she
said, was Emma Bond, and she and her two-year-old brother lived in the
back part of the house with their mother, who took care of Mr. Clark's
rooms. The baby's name was Robert Lee, but he was commonly known as the
General, a nickname given him by the Spectacle Man, and evidently well
bestowed.

After the picture-book had been examined from beginning to end twice
over, the General was, with the aid of some candy and much diplomacy,
induced to accompany his sister downstairs, calling "By-by," and kissing
his hand with great affability to Frances.

"Aren't they the cleanest looking children you ever saw?" said the
latter, coming back from the hall, where she had gone with their
guests.

"Aren't they! I think I shall like Emma, she is a nice, sensible,
old-fashioned little girl, and the General is great fun. I hope they
will come again," replied Mrs. Morrison.

In the course of the next few days they began to feel at home in their
new quarters, and they also made the acquaintance o