A Little Mother to the Others

ted also in cheerful colors. The windows were large and let in every scrap of sunshine; the passages and hall and stairs were broad and roomy; the nurseries and the children's rooms were mod

stling about the garden, and bustling about the parish from that moment until she retired to rest again, somewhere between ten and eleven at night. She was never exactly cross, but she was very determined. She had strict ideas, and made everyone in

. He had a kindly face and a good-humored way of talking. He preached very fair sermons on Su

rable excitement at the breakfast table. Five little hearts beat considerably faster than usual; but so great were the or

ed ten; then Ann, aged nine; then Philip and Conrad, aged respectively seven and a half and six. The faces of the whole five bore a curious resemblance to both father and mother, the eldest girl having the round, black eyes of her mother, and the large, somewhat irregular features of the father. Mary resembled Lucy in being fat and largely built, but her eyes were blue instead of black

tacles on his nose and looked over his wife's letter again. "These are the very words," he said; "Observe, Miss Ramsay, that I read from the letter. 'I return by the train which reaches Super-Ashton at six o'clock, and will br

them, papa," burst f

aying her hand on the little girl's arm. "You will

butter hastily; she longed beyond words to tell the others the kn

his wife's letter, and holding it close to his eyes, "'and-yes, the cart f

cles and nodded at the eager

te bothered by the parishioners since she went away. There is always a vast d

s Ramsay. "Mrs. Dolman does not spare he

certainly will need rest whenever she does leave this w

huge shoulders as he did so, and s

if mamma were here," w

folded her hands as an intimation to the children that the

lroom, and lessons began, just as if no four little Delaney

capes, and their washing-gloves, and came back again to Miss Ramsay, equipped for their walk. The boys, with straw hats sticking very far back on their heads, were also waiting Miss Ramsay'

ed and tired at one o'clock for dinner. They assembled again in the big, cool dining room and ate their roast mutton and peas

owed to be spoken. In consequence there was a sa

wagonette, and he supposed Simpson knew about the sleeping arrangements, a

derstands what is expected of her. The two girls are to have small rooms to themselves, and so is the eldest

all not be home to tea this evening. I have to go to visit a sick parishioner at the other end of the p

m Ann, "the new children

ore half-past six, my d

l be forced to punish you. You will have to stay in after the o

ly felt dreadfully excited, and it was terrible to have

to the schoolroom, where they lay down on the

rest of the day to do what they liked in. But on this occasion, Ann was kept in the schoolroom to learn her French poetry as best she could. The ten lines were dif

and found her in a s

he cried

ised herself

t you excuse the French poetry

surprised at you. Wh

ns-I seem to see them all the day-they come between me and-and my poetry. Please, Miss Ramsay, if you'll only allow

d and annoyed at this reb

er would say if she heard you talking English at meals. Twice to-day you broke through that rule. The first time I pardoned you-the second time it wa

of the house. They were in clean white frocks, with sashes round their waists, and their hair was very trimly brushed and curled over their heads. Their faces shone from soap and water, and even at that distance Ann could perceive that their hands were painfully, terribly clean. In her heart of hearts Ann hated clean hands; they meant so much that w

s and fresh knickerbockers; their hands were also carefully washed, their hair

rub me and tug at my hair, and put on such a horrid starched dress, and it's so hot to-night! Well, if I hurry I may be in time to

e nursery, opened the door, and approached a prim old servant wit

m. Will you dress me?" sai

wn her work wit

all the other children. Why didn't you come with the others? There, miss, you must just dress yourse

I can wash myself beautifully. May I go into the

r. Now, do be quick. I would help you willingly, Miss Ann, only I really have not a minute to spare; Master Philip and Master Conrad are dreadf

self, and ran b

es at the back of her frock, "I know it is wrong to be so much excited

m me, you'll keep your feelin's to yourself, as far as your ma is concerned. Your ma don't wish a

onducted young lady,"

l to hear you talk so unproper.

nn ran off to join her brothe

against her rules, they were as good and well-behaved as any two little English maids of the respective ages of twelve

cy. "Mary and I are talking se

secrets," said Ann. "I

you're the youngest. Please don't be disagreeable now. We

eyes fell upon Philip. She turned, ran up to him, cl

e you all to myself. I have some

ed from Con

were talking about our fishes. We think if we are very careful with our pocke

Only, Con, like a dear, good boy, please go and walk at the other end

d Lucy, who happened to pass by, with

d at Ann's evident anxie

" he said, in lofty tones; "go to t

ving secrets as well as anybody else; the air is

ou by and by," said Ann, "

, saw she was in earnest, an

hilip, "speak out; be a

, "don't you want to know all about t

ow if she is going to stay, and Simpson said she was sure that she would give notice too. Miss Ramsay said it was an awful shame bringing four children to the house, and Simpson threw up her hands. You know how she

t you ought not to

y, and they turn out no end useful. I know lots of things about Miss Ramsay, and since I just

er Simpson says, and whatever Miss Ramsay says, I am delighted that they are coming. I think it will be fun. In my heart, you

suppose they have names, althou

e I heard mother say that the whole four of them were called after heathen idols. Isn't it a

ols, but Ann's excited face and her bright b

mother comes home. You know she never can stand anybody all jumpy, and jerky, and q

dest girl," said Ann. "Then

hold of that name," said

roused his real interest at last. "Of course, Apollo is ver

little beggar," said Philip. "Well

a girl cal

hole story aloud to us last Sunday when the beastly rain kept dropping and dropping all day long. 'Great i

was," answered Ann. "I onl

girl. Well, now, what is the other name? I

k here, Phil, I bet you n

ilip. "Oh, if mamm

t does relieve me so. The name of the other boy is Orion, and he is called after a cluster