"and it does not answer to bring Aubrey into
the school-room. It only makes Mary and Blanche idle, and Miss Winter
does not like it."

"Then the question is, who shall it be? Nurse has no one in view, and
only protests against 'one of the girls out of the school here.'"

"That's a great pity," said Flora. "Don't you think we could make her
take to Jane White, she is so very nice."

"I thought of her, but it will never answer if we displease nurse.
Besides, I remember at the time Anne came, dear mamma thought there was
danger of a girl's having too many acquaintances, especially taking the
children out walking. We cannot always be sure of sending her out with
Anne."

"Do you remember--" said Ethel, there stopping.

"Well," said both sisters.

"Don't you recollect, Flora, that girl whose father was in the
hospital--that girl at Cocksmoor?"

"I do," said Flora. "She was a very nice girl; I wonder whether nurse
would approve of her."

"How old?" said Margaret. "Fourteen, and tall. Such a clean cottage!"

The girls went on, and Margaret began to like the idea very much, and
consider whether the girl could be brought for inspection, before nurse
was prejudiced by hearing of her Cocksmoor extraction. At that moment
Richard knocked at the door, and entered with Tom, helping him to bring
a small short-legged table, such as could stand on the bed at the right
height for Margaret's meals or employments.

There were great exclamations of satisfaction, and gratitude; "it was
the very thing wanted, only how could he have contrived it?"

"Don't you recognise it?" said he.

"Oh, I see; it is the old drawing-desk that no one used. And you have
put legs to it--how famous! You are the best contriver, Richard!"

"Then see, you can raise it up for reading or writing; here's a corner
for your ink to stand flat; and there it is down for your dinner."

"Charming, you have made it go so easily, when it used to be so stiff.
There--give me my work-basket, please, Ethel; I mean to make some more
white puffs."

"What's the matter now, Ethel?" said Flora; "you look as if you did not
approve of the table."

"I was only thinking it was as if she was settling herself to lie in bed
for a very long time," said Ethel.

"I hope not," said Richard; "but I don't see why she should not be as
comfortable as she can, while she is there."

"I am sure I hope you will never be ill, Ethel," said Flora. "You would
be horrid to nurse!"

"She