ut like a mouse. Your mother would have a better chance to
sleep with all the boys about her. Come away."

"Go, Letty; go with nurse. Be a good child," pleaded her mother, on
whose cheek a bright colour was flickering. "My darling would not make
mamma ill, and baby sister too?"

"Nurse, try me this once. I will be so quiet."

But nurse was not to be entreated; and the reluctant child was half led,
half dragged from the room, screaming and resisting. Her mother looked
after her, weary and helpless, and the baby on her lap sent up a
whimpering cry. Mrs Lee leaned back on her chair, and pressed her
hands over her eyes.

Christie rose.

"Will you trust me with the baby? I will be very careful."

The lady started; she had quite forgotten her. Christie stooped over
the baby with eager interest.

"Are you fond of children?" asked Mrs Lee.

"I love my brother and my little sisters. I have never been with other
children." There were tears in Christie's eyes as she raised them to
look in Mrs Lee's face, called forth quite as much by the gentle tones
of her voice as by the thought of `the bairns' at home.

"I am afraid you could do nothing for baby," said Mrs Lee. "Nurse will
be here presently. Perhaps you could amuse the children; but they miss
me, and are fretful without me."

"I will try," said Christie, eagerly. "Are they fond of stories? I am
very good at telling stories. Or I can read to them. I will do my
best."

She went down-stairs, and guided by the sound of children's voices,
entered the dining-room. The little girl had thrown herself on the
sofa, where she was sobbing with mingled grief and rage. The boys, on
the contrary, were enjoying the prospect of eating the apples which Mrs
Greenly was paring for them.

"The baby is crying. The lady wants you. She says I am to try and
amuse the children," said Christie.

"Well, I wish you joy of your work," said Mrs Greenly, whose temper was
a little ruffled by her encounter with Miss Letty. "For my part, I have
no patience with children who don't care whether their mother gets
better or not. Children should love their parents and obey them."

"I do love my mamma!" cried Letty, passionately, between her sobs. "Go
away, naughty nurse!"

"I'm just going, my dear," said the nurse. "And mind, my girl," she
added, to Christie, "these children are to be kept here, and they are to
be kept quiet too. Mrs Lee's wearied out of her very life with