Jill's Red Bag

here, and was never tired of dilating on his selfishness and

light one day, when he came to

a bit an' give it reg'lar every week, but if-so-be that I be wantin' of it, well I must

up at him solemnly. "It's a vow! You can't break a

ean to make no

him, and finally threatened that she would get Mis

you see you o

ough the chapter, an' Jacob he spoke up very certain-like about the Lord being his God. I don't set

g her Bible and reading t

will be good to him and take care of him, he will make Him his God,

e words mean rightly,

od, and He will belong to you. You do bel

n't so

s Falkner says it isn't only what God does for us, but Jesus d

long thought, "I'll com

eremony with great feeling and earnestness of p

hought it were a kind o' game when Miss Jill first brought it up, but I've been readin' the B

t on. Norah and Rose Beecher came over to tea one d

nd soon had the satisfaction of enrolling Ann

a came into the school-room one evenin

asked. "You would not be able to

ve a mother who lives quite alone, and who

ittle sigh. "You have so

ded in a di

hey play such pranks, and they're too old for

d offer no sugges

r them, but I want her to come abro

ave to leave them her

rhaps you are like Mrs. Errington, who at once saw a solution out of the difficulty. 'Take them to some comfortable farmhou

kner quietly. "But I am so fond of

to amuse myself. I find it hard work sometimes. But as you won't make

lf to her fate. Mona went to some of her numero

he packed the day before she went,

said Jill. "I'm going to shut my eyes and pretend I s

alkner

comes forward to greet her. Then she takes her to a little upstairs drawing-room, which is full of sweet-smelling flowers, and a canary bird and a big tabby cat-both the best of friends-are also waiting to greet the home-comer. Tea is waiting. A little rosy-cheeked maid brings the kettle i

ere she flung her arms round her governess's neck as she was stooping to put some things

hope to do

like your mother

a lump in her throat; when the anticipation of her mother's kiss and greeting was now the first waking th

t me find you when I come back steadily going forward

odded

nd perhaps the mission church will

hen she wished her good-bye, and Jill crept up to her room to have her weep out in secret. Jack appeared stolidly

re because it's so beastly dull, and I don't care who finds me here;

iantly trying to do her duty. She took them for drives and for picnics in the woods. She went into the nearest town and bought them outdoor games and s

ay got thro

good, but Jack's spirits were hard to restrain, and whatev

headache. It was a hot, sultry day in August. She left her charges playing a

irst one to gi

to Miss Falkner," she said. "

; "she throws the ball up into the

uggested Bump

ut, first bowl. There yo

nkly at her wick

we do next?"

ase," suggested Jack,

e paper?" asked Bumps in g

the house. We'll f

seized, then The Times of the day before and sundry magazines in the drawing-room, then t

ly began to tear his various papers to pieces. "You must give me ten minutes' start, Bump

miles away?" said B

l to come with you. It will be

and then Jack started, first taking off his jacket, and maki

en minutes and t

. Jack has gone, and oh! he has gone

on the grass and hardly turned her head. She murm

and went down-stairs congratulating herself upon the quiet b

the others?

ill. "Aren't they stupi

they have no

ed a wall, and fell through a greenhouse the other side, and I was

ng. Miss Webb looked anx

go and look for them. I hope they

be back till bed-

Miss Webb sharply. "She is far too small.

dered at Miss Webb's concern; but as time went on, and there was no

and look

s two fields, then it went through a farm-yard up into a loft, down again, and out at a small back gate. The farmer'

iece of plaster, but she were dead s

ing through another field, Ann

by this time. Come back, Miss Jill. Master Jack ou

found that Miss Webb had ordered the gardeners

t last voices were heard in the hall and Miss Webb r

eed somethin' white by the roadside, and then I seed it were a child. She have hurt

ard, for Bumps hung a limp and apparentl

put her to bed an' she'll be all right in the

foot bathed and bandaged, and after a good deal of pe

had failed to do what the others did, brought the tears as well as a smile to Miss Webb's face. Not a word of blame or reproach w

een ten and eleven that night without having found any sign of him. Miss Web

t six o'clock, and with determination in her smal

was a different matter, and though in some places the paper had disappeare

then it went no further. Jill climbed a low fence in spite of a board with "Trespassers will

erself, "and see where it leads, for I believe

ok it up and found it-as she expected-empty. Then she pressed forward, and at last came to the other end of the plantation. A deep and rather wide stream ran between it and a green field, in which there were

's anothe

ed the gaze of a stout,

n Jack?" she

his fis

me on in the face of it, and disturb my birds! If it is

lease where is Jack. He has been aw

rday was Jack, you had better follow him, and if

f a white gate and down a lane she ran, and never stopped till she reached a small co

k, he came runnin' down the road an' Mike the tinker were in front with his old cart. I seed the boy spea

ive?" asked Jill w

ere a-goin' on his rounds, and his n

. Jill knew it well, but it w

come home," she said half cry

he woman shading her eyes with

rider drew near, she saw to her intens

s horse direc

of you straying. Are you

. He is lost, and I've come out to find hi

y nodded

he said; "I've sent Jac

e brighten

lad; why didn'

the old bridge. It's a wonder they hadn't fallen into the river. The tinker had his ribs broken, and Jack a nasty cut on the head, but my housekeeper plastered

turned triumphantly to the hous

em from a window

I feel I shall be a white-haired old lady by the time Mona comes

lost," said Jill i

ran indoors