Diana, "you is a silly boy." Then she turned to Mary.
"I is awfu' tired and s'eepy," she said. "I'd like to go stwaight to
bed."

"You must have supper first. Did you not hear mamma say so? Now, come
along with me."

Mary held out her hand, which Diana, after a momentary hesitation,
condescended to take.

Meanwhile, Ann had gone up to Iris.

"Would you not like me to show you your room, cousin?" she said; "and
please, I want to say how very glad I am that you have come."

A faint tinge of delicate color came into Iris' sweet little face at
these words--they were the first attempt at a real welcome she had
received. She held out her hand to Ann without a word, and the
Delaneys and Dolmans entered the cheerful Rectory in a body. The four
little strangers, accompanied by Mary and Ann, went upstairs, where
Simpson was waiting for them. Simpson was feeling very cross at the
arrival of four additional children, but when she saw Diana's tired
face, and the tears on Iris' pale cheeks, and the defiant, and yet
baby look in Orion's bright eyes, something came over her which she
could not quite account for, and she suddenly became kind and
agreeable.

"Come, my dears," she said; "why, you must all be dead tired, you poor
little mites. Come now--come in here. And what are your names?"

"I am Iris," replied the eldest little girl in a sweet voice.

"Iris!" repeated Simpson; "and what's your name, young master?"

"Apollo," answered the little boy, flinging back his dark head and
fixing his handsome eyes upon the woman.

"My word! that's a queer sort of name--outlandish, I call it!"
ejaculated Simpson. "And now, missy, I expect you are called Baby?"

"No, I aren't," replied Diana. "I is the gweat Diana; I has got a bow
and arrow, and I'll shoot you if you is not kind."

"Oh, lor'! Now, missy, you would not be so cruel as that?"

"Yes, I would," replied Diana. "See this box in my hand? It's an awfu'
pwecious box--it has got spiders in it and two beetles. May I put the
poor darlin's loose in my room?"

Now, if Simpson had a horror, it was of spiders and beetles.

"You keep that box shut, miss," she said, "for if you dare to open it
in your bedroom I'll just go straight down and tell my mistress."

"And then you'll get punished, Diana," said Mary, in her most annoying
voice.

"Is you a cousin?" asked Diana, by way of reply.

"Certainly I am." Mary opened her round eyes in some astonishment.

"Is you my cousin?"