to bed, he felt very sleepy, and his head had not been
upon his pillow for five minutes before he was fast asleep.

He was wakened the next morning by True's voice.

'Oh, do wake up! We've had breakfast already. And oh! you funny boy,
you've got your walking-stick in bed with you.'

Bobby resented her tone.

'It isn't a stick, it's Nobbles,' he said. 'Me and Nobbles always
sleep together.'

He fingered Nobbles' red cap lovingly, then held him out for True's
inspection.

'He comed from over the sea. He's really alive, though he never
speaks; but he finks a lot, and whispers to me, but nobody but me can
hear him.'

True gazed at Nobbles' smiling face with fascination.

'What does he tell you?' she asked.

Bobby's slow smile came.

'He told me last night he liked this house very much; and--he ran away
from me in the night--he very often does--he goes up the chimleys, and
the wind takes him journeys. He went to the House to see how Nurse was
getting on.'

'Did he? To your grandmother's house? What did she say?'

Bobby considered.

'She said to Nurse, "I reely can't be troubled with the child, Nurse;
it's your place to look after him."'

'And what did your nurse say?'

'She wented down to the kitchen and ate some apple tart. And then
Nobbles said he came away "'cause nobody wanted me back," and I'm never
going to leave my father no more!'

'Dad is going to see your grandmother now. Motherums told him he ought
to. Do get up and come and see my rabbits. Oh! Here is Margot!'

Margot appeared with a breakfast tray, and Bobby lay still and ate an
egg and some bread and butter with relish.

'The mistress said you was not to be called, for you were tired out,'
said Margot, by way of explanation. 'And when you've had your bath,
and dressed, you can go to her room and see her. Can you dress
yourself?'

'I'm nearly sure I can,' said Bobby bravely.

But he was forced to let Margot assist him more than once; and when
ready at last, paused before leaving the room, looking up into her face
with a little uncertainty and doubt.

'Do you think they'll all like me here?' he said.

'Bless the child, this be a real home to everyone, though it be small.
I've been with the mistress for twenty years. She were a wild slip of
a girl when I took service out in 'Merica. She lost her mother when
she were eight, and I mothered her after, for her father were a proper
ne'er-do-weel, and were always moving from