bly
faithful, except pretty Rachel, the housekeeper's daughter, who was
rather gay and flighty, and had been something of a trial to her
mistress.

Aunt Maude went into the kitchen dressed for her journey. Mrs. Fixfax
had just returned from market, and was talking with the cook about the
dinner.

"That is a fine plump turkey," said Mrs. Allen; "I wish I were to help
eat it; but I came to tell you, Mrs. Fixfax, that Colonel Allen is sick,
and I must go to him at once, and leave you with the care of these
children."

The housekeeper, who was a fat, comfortable-looking woman, twice as
large as her mistress, said, "Indeed, mum!" hoped Colonel Allen "wasn't
sick to speak of," and shook her broad sides with laughter at the idea
of taking care of Fly.

"I'll give up going to church to-morrow, mum; for, light as the child
is, I can but feel as if you was sitting a ton's weight on my shoulders.
And I promise to keep her alive if the Lord's willing."

"You will hardly be obliged to give up your whole time Mrs. Fixfax. I
shall absolutely forbid her going out of the house, unless you, or some
other grown-up person, has charge of her. And really, with John,
Nathaniel, and Patty to keep guard, I don't see what mischief can befall
the little creature."

"We'll all do our best, mum," replied Mrs. Fixfax, heroically.

"I have perfect faith that you will. There is one more favor to ask.
These children have had a strange visit thus far, and if I go away and
leave them, I fear they will feel rather forlorn. Can you consent to let
the little girls 'keep house,' as they call it? That is, cook their own
meals, and set their own table?"

The cook, who was stuffing the turkey was so surprised that she spilled
a handful of sage over her apron. She would not have dared say the
words, but her thoughts ran like this: "Pretty doings, indeed! What does
Mrs. Allen mean by letting children come into the kitchen to bother
_me_?"

But Aunt Madge had not finished speaking. "Mrs. Fixfax, there is a
little old cooking-stove in the attic. Don't you remember you had it in
your room when you were nursing Rachel through that fever?"

"O, yes'm, so I had; and it shall be set right up there again, mum, if
you say so," said the obliging housekeeper; "and I'll carry up flour and
sugar, and what not, and move out my own things, so the children can
have the room pretty much to themselves."

"No need of that, Mrs. Fixfax," spoke up the cook, very pleasa