mother?"

The child shook her head.

"Harry played with the clothes-pins, and then he fell asleep. And Tom
and Neddie are both bad boys. They wouldn't obey me. Won't you let me
take the baby now?"

"Baby's asleep, and you mustn't make a noise to wake her," said the
nurse, in an ominous whisper. "And your mother's very tired, and must
lie down and sleep too. And you are going, like a nice young lady, into
the nursery, to see how quiet you can keep them."

She laid her hand on the child's arm as she spoke; but it was shaken off
abruptly, and the pretty face gathered itself into a frown. Her
mother's hand was laid on her lips.

"Mother," entreated the child, "I will be so good if you will let me
stay. There's nothing to do in the nursery, and I'm so tired of staying
there!"

"But your brothers," said Mrs Greenly. "They won't stay without you,
and your mother will be worse if she don't get rest. Indeed, ma'am, you
are quite flushed already," said she, looking at Mrs Lee; "quite
feverish. You are no more fit to be left than you were a fortnight ago.
You must have rest. The children must go."

"Let us go to the yard, then," pleaded one of them.

"It has been raining. Neddie must not go out," said the weary mother.
"Is not my little daughter going to be good?" she pleaded.

"Oh, do let me stay. I will be so good. Send the boys away to Nelly in
the kitchen, and let me stay with you."

On a table near the bed stood a tray, with several vials and glasses on
it. At this moment the whole was put in jeopardy by the enterprising
spirit of little Tom, who was determined to make himself acquainted with
their various contents. Neddie was endeavouring to raise himself to the
window-seat, using the curtains as a ladder to assist his ascent. There
was a fair prospect of confusion enough.

"This will never do," said the nurse, hastily, as she removed the tray
and its contents, and reached the window just in time to save the wilful
Neddie from a fall. "Do you know," she added, suddenly changing her
tone, "what Nelly brought from market to-day? Apples! They are in the
side-board down-stairs. And here are the keys. Who would like one?"

The boys suspended their mischievous operations, and listened. Letty
did not move.

"Let me stay," she whispered.

"Come, Miss Letty, like a good child. Your mother _must_ sleep, or she
will be ill, and the baby too. Come! I know what your quietness is--
fidgeting abo