s
always kind, seemed to have forgotten the long ago time when she was a
child, when little things looked so big, and a broken doll or a wet
birthday made all the world dark for a little while. And Penny, though
she was quite ready to pet and comfort them, never had very much to
suggest except kisses and sugar and a bit of cake. But Martha Rogers,
though she was so big and wise and busy, had that beautiful power,
which we must all learn if we are going to be helpful, sympathizing
people, of remembering what it was like to be little and shy and
stupid, and never talked about it being a waste of time and tears to
cry over playthings, or thought that people could be comforted by
sweetmeats and advice not to spoil their pretty eyes. There was a sort
of strong, happy feeling about her very presence, and Angel and Betty
felt it to-day as they came into the lavender-scented store-room.
Martha gave them a hearty welcome as usual.

'Come in, Miss Angel, come in, Miss Betty dear; 'tis a while since I
saw you. Sit ye down here, Miss Angel, out of the draught. Bless your
heart, my dear, where are your roses? But, of course, Patty's just
told me the fright you've got about the young gentleman--a little Turk,
to be sure; but there, boys will be boys, won't they, and never easy
till they're in mischief one way or the other.'

Angel began to answer her, and then suddenly, at the kind hearty words,
her composure broke down, and she dropped her face in her hands and
cried as Betty had done.

'It's my fault, Martha,' faltered Betty, in explanation, 'it was me he
was with, and I couldn't stop him doing it. And he's got nobody but us
to look to, you know, and how are we ever going to teach him?'

Martha Rogers looked from one of the sisters to the other, and then she
stuck her needle into the black muslin and came over to Angelica, and
began stroking her bowed head with her broad tender hand.

'Poor dears! poor little ladies!' she said gently; 'bless your hearts,
my dears, if you take on like this every time the young gentleman takes
a frolic you'll have your hair white before you're twenty.'

'But, Martha,' sighed Betty, 'you know he did what I told him not to
do.'

'Ay, did he, Miss Betty dear; and many's the time, I doubt, he'll take
his own way again, like the rest of us, and be sorry for it, sure
enough.'

'But if I can't make him obey me,' said Betty dolefully, 'there's
nobody but us, you know.'

'Miss Betty dear, n