waiting,
helping Willie meantime to unpack his soldiers, with smothered
exclamations of delight.

'Oh, Nuttie, how good of you! Please to excuse the accompaniment.
There never was such a young lady for self-assertion to make up for
there being so little of her.'

And Annaple, very thin and tired looking, held up the child, fearfully
small and pinched for four months old, to be kissed by Nuttie.

'Does she always go on like this?'

''Cept when she is asleep,' said Willie.

'Poor wee lassie,' said Annaple; 'there's great excuse for her, for the
food has not yet been invented that suits her ladyship.'

'You must come and consult nurse.'

'And how are you all? I'm glad you are at hand, Nuttie! Is Mr.
Egremont better?'

'As well as ever he is--lame and altogether an invalid,--but he has not
had such bad attacks of pain lately.'

'And his eyes?'

'About the same. He can write, and tell one card from another, but he
can't read--or rather it hurts him to do so, and he can't bear a strong
light. But, Annaple, how are you? That child is wearing you to a
shadow.'

'Oh! I'm quite well--perfectly. There, I think she is gone off at
last. You had better walk her about a little, Emily; she will break
out again if we try to put her in the cradle.'

And having handed over the child with only a very low murmur, Annaple
left her combined kitchen and nursery. She flew at the flowers Nuttie
had brought like a thirsty person, crying, as she buried her face in
them, 'Now for beauty! Now Mark will be refreshed! Ah! here's a
pretty pickle for a reception room.'

'Oh, don't put it away! I could help you; I do so like that kind of
work. It is so like old times.'

'It must be put away, thank you, for Mark will be coming in. And the
saying about the public washing of garments is specially true of one's
own husband. Ways and means are worrying to the masculine mind.'

'I thought it was too early for Mark?'

'He has an appointment to keep at Charing Cross or thereabouts, so I
made him promise to come in in time to "put a bit in his head," as our
Irish charwoman says.'

'Then I can take him. I have the carriage, and I must be at home by
half-past twelve. I wish you would come too, Annaple. There's plenty
of room. You could show the baby to nurse, and the boys could have a
good game. I would send you back in the evening. Mark could come on
after his business is done.'

'Thank you, Nuttie, I can't to-day--for