how pleasant it was to see her face once more at the table.

When Mr. Lee was gone, Mrs. Lee resumed the subject about which they had
been talking, and sketched what she thought would be an improvement on
the internal arrangement of the proposed building.

"Now don't, Mother!" said Marcus. "What do women know about such
things?"

"What do boys know? you had better say!" said Hatty, hastily taking
part with her mother.

"Any sensible boy of twelve knows more about such things than a woman!"
said Marcus, turning to leave the room.

"Stop, Marcus," said Mrs. Lee, gently.

Marcus stopped, but did not approach his mother. She stepped to his side
and said: "Marcus, there was once a boy of twelve who had more wisdom
than the learned doctors in the Jewish Temple. He, of course, knew more
than his mother. Yet he went down with her to Nazareth, and was subject
unto her. Even he was not above honoring his father and mother. Will you
not try to imitate him?"

Marcus was softened by his mother's gentle manner, and he answered: "If
I don't behave as I ought to you, Mother, it is a great shame;" and then
he was again turning away.

Again he was detained. Hatty laid her hand on his arm and said: "Marcus,
I did not speak rightly to you just now. I was angry. I am sorry." Hatty
blushed painfully when she spoke, and it was evident the acknowledgment
cost her a great effort.

"I did not notice it," said Marcus, hurrying away.

Hatty felt a little hurt at the way her apology was received, but her
mother took her by the hand, and said: "That is right, Hatty. Confess
your faults one to another, and pray one for another. You must not
forget Marcus in your prayers."

Hatty was silent a moment, and then her mother said: "Come now, my dear,
the baby is awake, and you will have an opportunity to see his queer
little blue eyes, and to hold him in your lap."

Hatty was delighted when she reached the nursery, to be allowed to take
the tiny being in her arms, and to hold his pretty soft hand in hers.

Meg and Harry seemed to think it was a very attractive sight to see
Hatty with the baby on her lap, and they left their soap-bubbles and
came to stand about her.

At this moment Aunt Barbara came in. She did not seem to notice Hatty
and the baby. Her eyes at once fell upon the bowl full of soap-suds Meg
had placed on a chair.

"Dear! dear!" exclaimed Aunt Barbara, "what are the children coming to?
Why, they waste soap as if it grew, in