Kitty Trenire

for choosing to perch themselves on the old garden wall, where it was so cool, and shady, and enticing? And who, as Kitty often

d, and so interesting too, for, of course, no one could know what lay in store for them all, and the m

ppen to me some day," said Betty,

" said Dan with mock serio

"Don't," with a superior air, "be silly, Dan. Things

sting and important too, and that while they were thinking of their "fates" as somethi

flat top of it, and shade was what one appreciated most on that hot day. All the ground in Gorlay sloped, for Gorlay was built on two hills, while the gardens of all the houses on either side sloped either up

the other. The garden and the garden wall were at the end. From the yard the wall ran up to a good height-to the children it seemed immense, as high as the tower of Babel, though

the garden it was so low that by just walking over a flower-bed one could step right on to it, while from that eminence one could command a view of the back do

ld Prue, Dr. Trenire's well-beloved and faithful mare, would thrust out her head and gaze dreamily at the life in the yard, or at nothing; and the children, if they were about, would rub her nose and fondle her lovingly, and bring her handfuls of grass, or carrots, or sugar.

ere both indulging in an afternoon nap in the shady stable, for it really

up a most inviting and enticing-looking spot whe

e was also, unfortunately, quite close at hand a supply of perfect ammunition in the shape of a heap of small stones and rubbish which they had swept together a few days before when seized by a sudden mania for tidying up the garden. Of course, had they been really good children, they would have finish

dancing with rage in the yard below-rage at the noise they were making and the litter he foresaw he would have to sw

hurt him on any account whatever, but, as they said afterwards, when he deliberately placed himself between them and their target, and dared them to throw another sto

to think he could have known that Jabez was going to duck his silly head at the very wrong moment, and it was even more ridiculous of Jabez to accuse him of knowing that there was a large rusty nail in the wood, for Jabe

ely-needed rest. The doctor had been out all the previous night at a most trying case, and body and brain were weary, his nerves all on edge, his patience nearly exhausted, and he had no time or

e not going to be quite as simply and easily got over as usual. She saw a look cross her father's face such as she had never seen on it before, and for the first time in her careless, happy-go-lucky life realized with keen compunctio

tended to the wound. It was only a surface one, but the skin was torn rathe

some hot

dow, just as though she had not a care or a duty in the world. The squalor and muddle of the whole place could not fail to strike any one, even casual Kitty; and to her it brought a deeper feeling, one of trouble and remorse, for, in response to her own pleading, her father had made her his housekee

do wake up! Why haven't you go

her crosser. "I don't want a great fire burning on a hot afternoon like this," she answered sharply. "You wouldn't like it yourself if

a tone that expressed most emph

e folks coming into my kitchen, turning everything over and rummaging round. I s

Kitty. "I must have some hot water, Fanny, and quic

e, and her expression

k, miss. We ran out o

here, I might as well t

h

hatever shall I do? Jabez is ble

and deep concern. "Is it-is it dangerous, miss? How did it happen? What's he done?" Fanny had been so sound asleep th

oh, Fanny, what will father think? I believe he is angry with us already, and you know he was out all night and is

vish use of sticks, kindling a big blaze under a small kettle, and soon had water re

h I have said until I am tired that in a doctor's house there

rtable-looking chairs in the room, with very grave expressions on their pale but not too clean faces. Dan was standing by the window looking intensely nervous and uncomfortable. He glanced frequently from Jabez to his father, and back again, and Kitty could see he

ssible; but as she knew little or nothing as to where anything was kept, she was more of a hindr

ade their way to the old nursery, now called "the schoolroom," and there waited with curiously mingled feelings for what was to happen next

ssessed, and to hear the recital of every wrong he had ever received at their hands; and by the time they heard their father's footstep coming their hopes and fe