a little girl; in a short time,
when she saw how good and gentle Jess really was, she too forgot her
fears.

Lottie and Carrie went to school together. Now that they had Jess they
were always glad when school hours were over, and they could run home to
play. Jess was as pleased to see them back as the children were to come,
and all through the summer they learned to be better and better friends
with the little terrier.

But after the summer holidays Lottie went away for a while, to visit
some friends, and Carrie was left to go to school by herself. She was
very lonely and dull without her sister. When one is only six years old,
a fortnight seems such a long time, and at last Carrie settled that she
could _not_ go to school another day without Lottie.

Then she did a very foolish thing. After she was sent to school, she
turned back and hid herself in the tool-house at the bottom of the
garden. She had heard her mother say at breakfast that she was going out
for the forenoon, and Carrie thought that she would just wait till there
was no one at home, and then come out from her hiding-place and play.

Mrs. Sefton had a long walk to take, and as soon as possible she put on
her bonnet, and then, thinking that her little girl was safe at school,
she locked up the house, and started on her errand, leaving Jess to run
about the garden and take care of things.

Carrie heard her mother close the front door, and then she came out from
the tool-house. She had thought that it would be very nice to stay at
home and play, but she soon began to feel lonely and frightened, and to
wish that she had not deceived her mother.

'Oh, Jess!' she said to the little dog, 'I wish I had been good and gone
to school!'

Jess looked up at Carrie, and wagged her tail, but she could do nothing
more to comfort her little mistress.

Carrie walked up and down, feeling ready to cry.

'I never shall be able to stay here all by myself till Mother comes
back,' she thought. 'I will try and get over the wall.'

Now, the garden wall was high, and just as Carrie, by a great effort,
had managed to reach the top, her foot slipped, and she fell heavily
down on to the mould.

She was so much hurt that she fainted away, and then it was the dog's
turn to be distressed. Jess walked round and round the little fallen
girl, and, finding that she could do nothing to help, she set up a
piteous bark, and barked so long and so loudly that she drew the
attention o