lways call me nurse, and I suppose your household
will do the same, Mrs. Morton. I think for yourself, you will find Merle
the handiest name; it is short."

"It is very pretty and uncommon," she returned, musingly, "and it has
this one advantage, it hardly sounds like a Christian name; if you are
sure you do not object, perhaps I will use it, but," speaking a little
nervously, "you need not have worn this," pointing to my cap. "You
remember I said so to your aunt."

"I think it better to do so," I returned, in a decided voice; in fact, I
am afraid my voice was just a little too decided in speaking to my
mistress, but I was determined not to give way on this point. "I wish to
wear the badge of service, that I may never forget for one moment what I
owe to my employers, and--" here the proud colour suffused my face--"no
cap can make me forget what is due to myself."

I could see Mrs. Morton was amused, and yet she was touched too. She
told me afterwards that she thought me that moment the most original
young woman she had ever seen.

"You shall do as you like," she returned; but there was a little fun in
her eyes. "It certainly looks very nice, and I should be sorry if you
took it off. I only spoke for your aunt's sake and your own; for myself
I certainly prefer it."

"So do I," was my independent answer; "and now, if you please, I think I
will lay baby in his cot, as he will sleep more soundly there, and then
it will be time to get Joyce ready for her dinner," for, in spite of my
cap, I had already forgotten to say "Miss Joyce," or to call my mistress
"ma'am," though I have reason to know that Mrs. Morton was not at all
displeased with the omission.

"It might have been a princess in disguise waiting on my children,
Merle," she said to me, many months afterwards. But I knew nothing of
the secret amusement with which my mistress watched me as she stood by
the nursery fire in her furs, warming herself; I only knew that I loved
to see her there, for from the first moment my heart had gone out to
her. She was so beautiful and gentle; but it was not only that.

Baby woke just as I was putting him in his cot, and I had some little
trouble in lulling him to sleep again. Hannah was dressing Joyce, and as
soon as she had finished, I tried to make friends with the child. She
was very shy at first, but I called Snap, and made a great fuss over
him. I was just beginning to make way, when the gong summoned Mrs.
Morton to lunch