y than an angel as they had
fancied her. She had _very_ pretty, very bright, noticing eyes, and she
was pretty altogether. She was dressed in black velvet with a bright
crimson sash, and her hair was tied with crimson ribbon; her neat little
legs were clothed in black silk stockings, and there were buckles on her
tiny shoes.

Floss and Carrots hardly dared to stare at her for her eyes seemed to
be noticing them all over, and when prayers were finished, and their
mamma called them to come to speak to their aunt and cousin, do you know
they actually both felt quite shy of Sybil, small as she was? More shy
of her than of their aunt, somehow; _she_ seemed more like what they had
expected, or, perhaps, the truth was, they had "expected" much less
about her. Besides no children ever were shy with auntie, such a thing
would have been impossible.

They kissed Sybil, Floss feeling very tall and lanky beside her compact
tiny cousin, and Carrots feeling I don't know how. He just looked at
Sybil with his soft wondering brown eyes, in such a solemn way that at
last she burst out laughing.

"What a funny boy you are!" she exclaimed. "Mother dear, _isn't_ he a
funny boy?"

"Aren't you very tired, Sybil?" said Floss, afraid that she would be
laughed at as "a funny girl," next.

"No, thank you," said Sybil, quite grave, and like a grown-up person,
all in a minute. "I'm becustomed to travelling. I'm not tired at all,
but I'll tell you what I am--I'm," and out broke her merry laugh again,
"I'm very _hungry_."

"That's a broad hint," said Captain Desart, laughing too. "Florence,
your daughter is ready for breakfast, do your hear? Where will you sit,
Miss Sybil? Beside your old uncle, eh?"

"Yes, thank you," replied Sybil, "if you won't call me Miss Sybil,
please. And may this little boy sit 'aside me?"

"This little boy and this little girl have had their breakfast," said
Mrs. Desart. "Run off, Carrots and Floss, you are both to have a whole
holiday you know, so Sybil will see plenty of you."

"I wish they could see more of each other," said auntie, as the children
left the room. "Some time you must let them both come and pay us a long
visit, when we are really settled you know."

Auntie gave a little sigh as she said this--she felt so tender and kind
to Carrots and Floss, and something made her a little sorry for them.
Though they were healthy, happy-looking children, and their dress was
neat and cared for, they did not look