sad thoughts come into my
mind, and I keep wondering whether there isn't something that I can do
for those in trouble, and then I am unhappy because I can't think of
anything. I see so many things that you don't see, and I can't get them
out of my head all day long."

"What sort of things?" asked the boy in surprise.

"Well, for instance, twice when we have been coming home from our
afternoon walk, we have met a man with a heavy shovel on his shoulder,
and you didn't notice him because you were so busy talking with Mrs.
Stanhope. The man looked down on the ground, just as father does when
he comes home at night all tired out and says, 'We shall hardly pull
through, if I work ever so hard; I'm afraid we can't keep out of debt.'
I'm sure that man is worried just as father was, and I keep thinking if
I could only go after him and find out where he lives, I might do him
some good, perhaps."

"But you mustn't do that," cried Fani, much horrified. "Don't you
remember how Mrs. Stanhope told us in the very beginning that we must
never go into any house where we didn't know the people? and that we
mustn't speak first to people we don't know, as we do at home? You must
not go and talk to that man. Do you hear, Elsli? Mrs. Stanhope would be
very angry with you."

Elsli thought for a while. Presently she said, "I do not believe that
Mrs. Stanhope meant that I should not speak to a poor man who is in
trouble, as this man is. She only meant that we mustn't talk with people
who ask us questions about where we came from and how we live at home. I
don't believe she meant people like this man at all."

"Oh, Elsli, you can't make distinctions, that way," said Fani,
impatiently. "All we have to do is to mind what we are told, and not
speak to strange people or go to their houses. Now let's talk about
something else; this sort of talk is tiresome. Come here; I'll show you
something."

The children sat down again side by side on the stone bench, with their
heads close together, and Fani took something out of his pocket which
they both examined carefully. It was a small, nicely painted landscape,
in fresh bright colors. Elsli studied it silently.

"Do you see what it is?" asked Fani.

"Yes, indeed, I knew it at the first glance. It is Rosemount; there are
the roses and the linden trees. How beautifully you have done it, Fani!
Won't Emma be delighted when she sees it, and surprised too? I'm sure
she has no idea that you can paint so