--

"Nurse was so busy she could not be in the room with me.

"So I put on my hat and came to look for a baby; but I got lost on the
way. At last I came to the wood and saw this house. She could not give
me a baby as Rob said she would, but she gave me some tea, and bread
and butter with sugar on it. We only have that on Sunday at home. Is
this Sunday?"

"No, little miss," said the man. "But I expect you had it just for a
treat, as you had got lost."

But just then steps were heard on the path, and there was a sharp
knock at the door.

The latch was lifted, and a voice said,--

"Have you seen a little girl in a white frock pass this way?"

"Why, that must be Nurse," cried Meg.

In spite of being cross at Meg's having run away, Nurse had to laugh;
then she bent down and said, "But what made you run away like this,
Miss Meg?"

"Rob told me that if I came to the house in the wood I should find a
real live baby; but he was wrong, for she," with a smile at Mrs.
Stone, "is very nice, but she has not got a baby to give me."

"Of course not, child; but do you know that I have some news for you?"

"What is it? Do tell me?" cried the little girl.

"While you were away in the wood to look for a baby we have found a
baby at home. You have a new baby brother. Come home with me now and
you shall see him."

"A new little brother," said Meg, her eyes wide open with wonder. "He
must have known I had gone out to look for one. So now I have got two
new friends and a baby too. Come along, quick."

"Good-bye," she said to her new friends. "Thank you ever so much for
being so kind, and for the supper.

"I am coming to have supper with you again soon, and then I will bring
the new baby with me. You will give me and baby bread and butter with
sugar on it, won't you?" and Meg trotted off as happy as a little
queen.

* * * * *

JOCK AND I AND THE OTHERS

First of all, I must tell you who I am.

My name is PE-NEL-O-PE, but Jock always calls me Pen. I am eight years
old; Jock is half-past six.

We live with mother and father and Rover and Tibby in a house not very
far from a large city.

Mother is the nicest person I know in all the world.

Father is a very big man. He always has lots of money in his pocket.
He goes to business in a train every day.

We have a real farm, quite near to our house, where they keep cows,
chickens, pigs, horses, and geese. Jock and I often go to see th