or it's about the library-books being so mischievously
defaced, and I am afraid that her oldest boy had something to do with
it. It ought to be inquired into before to-morrow."

"Oh, go, by all means," said Emily; "don't mind me; it will be a
pleasure to sit here and listen to the music. Mr. Hermann's playing is a
great treat to me, and I don't care how long I wait; so do not hurry on
my account, Mr. Arnold."

Thus assured, Mr. Arnold led the lady to a chair beneath the pulpit, and
went with Mr. Cooper.

All this time Gerty had been unnoticed, and had remained very quiet on
the upper stair, secured from sight by the pulpit. Hardly had the doors
closed, however, with a loud bang, when the child got up, and began to
descend the stairs. The moment she moved, the lady, whose seat was very
near, started, and exclaimed, "Who's that?"

Gerty stood still, and made no reply. Strange the lady did not look up,
though she must have perceived that the movement was above her head.
There was a moment's pause, and then Gerty began again to run down the
stairs. The lady sprang up, and, stretching out her hand, said, "Who is
it?"

"Me," said Gerty, looking up in the lady's face; "it's only me."

"Will you stop and speak to me?" said the lady.

Gerty not only stopped, but came close up to Emily's chair, irresistibly
attracted by the sweetest voice she had ever heard. The lady placed her
hand on Gerty's head, and said, "Who are you?"

"Gerty."

"Gerty who?"

"Nothing else but Gerty."

"Have you forgotten your other name?"

"I haven't got any other name."

"How came you here?"

"I came with Mr. Cooper, to help him to bring his things."

"And he's left you here to wait for him, and I'm left too; so we must
take care of each other, mustn't we?"

Gerty laughed at this.

"Where were you?--On the stairs?"

"Yes."

"Suppose you sit down on this step by my chair, and talk with me a
little while: I want to see if we can't find out what your other name
is. Where do you say you live?"

"With Uncle True."

"True?"

"Yes. Mr. True Flint I live with now. He took me home to his house one
night, when Nan Grant put me out on the side-walk."

"Why, are you that little girl? Then I've heard of you before. Mr. Flint
told me all about you."

"Do you know my Uncle True?"

"Yes, very well."

"What's your name?"

"My name is Emily Graham."

"O! I know," said Gerty, springing suddenly up, and clapping her hands
together; "I