letter seems a Providence; you will act upon it."

"It certainly does," said the man; "but, Jane, you will be good to the
children--tender, I mean. Their mother has always been very gentle to
them."

"You need not question me as to how I will treat them. I will bring
them up as I would my own. I will do my utmost to rear them in the
fear of God. David, this clinches the matter. Write to Mr. Seymour by
this night's post."

Mr. Delaney promised to do so, and soon afterwards Mrs. Dolman,
feeling that she had done a very good and excellent work, retired, in
a thoroughly happy frame of mind, to her bedroom.

CHAPTER VI.

THE POOR DEAD 'UNS.

Mr. Delaney's bedroom faced east, and the following morning, at a very
early hour, he began to have most unpleasant dreams. He thought a
hobgoblin was seated on his chest, and several brownies were pulling
him where he did not wish to go, and finally that a gnome of enormous
dimensions was dragging him into a dark cavern, where he could never
again behold the daylight. At last, in great perturbation, he opened
his dazed eyes. The sight he saw seemed at first to be a continuation
of his dream, but after a moment or two he discovered that the person
who had become possessed of his chest was a small boy of the name of
Orion, that a little black-eyed girl called Diana had comfortably
ensconced herself on his knees, and that Iris and Apollo were seated
one at each side of his pillow. The four children had all climbed up
on to the big bedstead, and were gazing attentively at him.

"He is opening his eyes," said Orion, "he'll be all right after a
minute or two. Don't hurry up, father; we can wait."

"We can wait quite well, father," said Diana; "and it's very comf'able
on your knees; they is so flat."

"We are awfully sorry to disturb you, father," said Iris.

"But we can't help it, because it's most solemnly important," said
Apollo.

"So it seems," remarked Mr. Delaney, when he could at last find a
voice. "You have all subjected me to a terrible dream. I am really
glad that I have awakened and find that the hobgoblins, and gnomes,
and brownies are no less little people than my own four children. But
why am I to be disturbed at such a very early hour?"

"If you like, father," said Diana, "we'll pull up all the blinds; then
the hot, blazin' sun will come in, and you'll see that it's not early
at all; it's late."

Mr. Delaney happened to glance at a clock which stood on t