ing
the song, but that after he had sung it, she hoped he would tell her a
_little_ more about Agnes that night. She liked to hear about her, she
said, very much indeed.

So Beechnut changed Malleville's position, placing her in such a manner
that her head reclined upon his shoulder.

'Shut your eyes now,' said he, 'and form in your mind a picture of the
little dell and fountain, with the frost-work beaming in the moonlight,
and Agnes dancing on the ice while I sing.'

Then Beechnut began to sing the first verse of the song to a very lively
and a pretty tune. He could not sing the second verse, he said, because
he had not heard it all. But the first verse he sung over and over
again.

'_Peep! peep! chippeda dee!
Playing in the moonlight, nobody to see;
The boys and girls have gone away.
They've had their playtime in the day,
And now the night is left for me.
Peep! peep! chippeda dee!_'

Malleville lay very still, listening to the song for about five minutes,
and then Beechnut found that she was fast asleep. He then rose very
gently, and carried her to her bed. He laid her in the bed, and Phonny,
who stood by, covered her with the clothes. He and Phonny then crept
softly out of the room.

II

A Sound Sleeper

About nine o'clock, Hepzibah, having finished her work for the day,
covered up the kitchen fire, and fastened the outer doors. Beechnut had
gone to bed, and so had Phonny. Hepzibah went into Phonny's room to see
if all was safe, and to get the light. She then went into Malleville's
room.

The room had a very pleasant aspect, although the fire had nearly gone
down. The lamp was burning on the stand at the foot of the bed where
Phonny had left it. Hepzibah advanced softly to the bedside. Malleville
was lying asleep there, with her cheek upon her hand.

'Poor child!' said Hepzibah to herself. 'She has gone to sleep. What a
pity that I have got to wake her up by-and-by, and give her some
medicine.'

Hepzibah then looked at a clock which stood upon the mantel-shelf, and
saw that it was a little past nine. It was an hour or more before it
would be time to give Malleville the drops. Hepzibah thought that if she
went to bed, she should fall asleep, and not wake up again until
morning, for she always slept very soundly. She determined, therefore,
that she would sit up until half-past ten, and then, after giving
Malleville the medicine, go to bed. She accordingly went and got her
k