The Oriel Window

him till he had had his breakfast, for it was very important to keep up his strength with nourishing food, and "if you begin talking together, you know," said

be with her brother, not to seem sad or dull, and yet to be very quiet-"quietly cheerfu

rprise. Ferdy cross or p

we have little quarrels, it is almost always

in his life, and-and this sad accident is sure to tell on his nerves." She had been doing her best to speak cheerfully,

about what the doctors think, I mean. I promise you I will not let him find out anything you don't want him to know. I will be v

s injured badly. That is the reason we are so anxious. He may get better. The doctors think that in a few weeks he will be able to be up

a," said

if she had done wrong in telling her so much. An

careful when I am with dear Ferdy, and if he ever is the least cross, I won't

be a great help. I will see her t

o-day?" asked Chrissie. "Is

must have time to get over it; but I think you had better do some lessons, Chrissie-those that you have separately from Ferdy. Flowers or I will sit b

Chrissie. "Ferdy woul

aid Mrs. Ross. "Now you

y's separation, and proud too of being trusted to take care of him. But it was going to be more difficult for her than she knew, f

ely believe there was much the matter, and he looked still better

you've come! It seems such a long time since

rl, especially when her cheeks were rosy a

she said, "quite different from yes

ther a melancholy tone. "I am g

of it! What would he do if it went on for weeks-perhaps months? She felt glad, how

it was to be for a long while. Chrissie," and here he fixed his blue eyes-so like his mother's-on his sister's face, "do you think it'

st. She was so glad to be able

er you keep just now the quicker you'll get better. And it's so nice in this room, and you can see so nicely out of the wind

really want to get up-at least I don't feel as if I could-that's what bothers me. I am not sorry in

he had a feeling that it was better for

happy, his thoughts had somehow wandered to people whose lives were very different fro

t think I could bear it if I

nown how Ferdy was going to talk to Chrissie, very probably she would not have told

-just what you were saying yourself," said Chrissie

to make them really seem happy," said Ferdy. "P'r

they'd know that if they always seemed unhappy i

" said

ays do something for other people. And that makes y

y still,

since yesterday, Chrissie-you'd hardly believe. I was thinking that supposing I could neve

nd I'm sure you could be of good somehow. But I don't think you should begin puzzling about things when you're really not better yet

rdy, "but I couldn't remember wha

stine, "about the swallows who have a ne

birds, but I couldn't get hold of the rest of it. And now I seem to remember more, and I know I was thinking about those swallows when I fell asl

urned from melancholy things-only-there was something about

ehow even in my dream I knew there was something the matter. It seemed to be either late in the evening or very early

our?" ask

rl. I've seen it in a picture, but never quite like that i

ly the same as you do in dreams. That's what makes dreams so nice, I suppose,-nice

I," said

nds rather nice. You were walking

and I began wondering if the swallows knew and were talking about it-their chirping got to sound so like talking. And at last, standing quite still and almost holding my breath to listen, I began to make out what they were saying. The first thing I heard was, 'It's rather sad to have come back to this,' and then an

that made you drea

oked rather

his sister's face, "it's really very interesting-'specially as I know I dre

est to cheer him up. He needn't be dull if he uses his eyes; it's a cheerful corner.' And by this time, Ferdy, I had remembered all about you being hurt, and it cam

er side of the world," said Ferdy

e impatience, "you know what I mean. If you kee

then," s

? It would be so nice for you to tell Ferdy stories about your adventures, now that I can understand what you say.' And I felt so pleased. But I couldn't see them, and all I heard was twitter

h you'd go on with it to-night

shook h

ut it is rather nice to fancy that the swallows know about us, and that it'

s they meant me to look at out of the window. It did rather sound, Chrissi

ed, though a l

ittle fancy it is true. We could almost make a story of the window-of all the things to be seen, and all the people passing. Wh

self a very litt

n of looking out of one side part of the day, and then out of the other side. I don't think it would be so b

I'm to do a little lessons first, and then I daresay she'll come in here and read alou

" said Ferdy, "cutting out or p

e closely as to what the doctors had said, for fortunately her cheerful talking had made him partly f

was standing in the win

sn't at school? She seems talking to him quite nicely. Now she's coming on again and Jesse is touching his cap. He can be very polite when he likes. Shall I run and meet

talking to each other? I daresay they're talking about me. Does Miss Lilly l

talking quite-like always, b

ing more in the window. I could see all those int'resting things myself. I could see a good deal now if I was sitt

tn't," she cried, d

already quite flat

I can't sit up the least little b

he window, "for they are coming in now, and mamma won't be pleased if sh

y manfully, "I'm not g

hich met his mother's anxious glance as s