of joy, and they tried to be glad for her
sake.

Grandmother was anxious to get home, and, as soon as all could be
arranged, she set off with Poppy and the twins. The neighbours were very
kind, and did all they could to help them, and Jack rubbed away
something with his sleeve, which was very like a tear, as he saw their
train steam out of the station.

It was a new life for Poppy. Grandmother lived in a lovely valley, full
of beautiful trees and running brooks, and quiet, peaceful glades, where
in the daytime the squirrels played and the birds sang, where in the dim
evening hours the rabbits came to nibble the grass, and where, at night,
when Poppy and her little brothers were asleep, the solemn old owls sat
in the trees, and called to each other in harsh and ugly voices.

Through the middle of the valley ran a white smooth road, winding in and
out amongst the trees, and on this road came the carriages, driving
quickly along, with the postillions in scarlet coats riding on the
horses in front, and the ladies and gentlemen, who had come to see the
beautiful valley, leaning back in the carriages behind.

It was Poppy's delight to open the gate for these carriages, and in
this way she was able to save her grandmother a good deal of running
about. She used to climb up the hillside, and watch until they were in
sight, and then run down as fast as she could, that she might have the
gate open in time for them to pass through. That was Poppy's work out of
school hours, for grandmother sent her regularly to the pretty little
country school, and would let nothing keep her away from it.

Dear old grandmother! how hard she worked for Poppy and for the babies!
she thought nothing a trouble that she could do for them, and Poppy
loved her more and more every day.

As the months went by, little Enoch and Elijah grew fat and strong; the
fresh country air and the new milk made a wonderful change in them, and,
when the next summer came, they were able to run about, and could climb
on the hillside with Poppy, and gather the wild roses, and the
harebells, and the honeysuckle, and would sit on the bank, near the
cottage, watching the carriages, and trying to catch the pence which the
people threw them as they drove by.

One Saturday afternoon, at the end of the summer, as Poppy was playing
with them outside the lodge, she caught sight of a man coming quickly
down the road. She ran to open the gate for him, but as she did so she
gave