their
noise. That useless Bridget was just as good as nobody with them."

So she went up-stairs, and Christie was left to manage with the children
as best she might. While the apples lasted there was little to be said.
Letty did not heed hers, though it lay on the sofa, within reach of her
hand, till Tom made some advances in that direction. Then it was seized
and hidden quickly, and Tom's advances sharply repelled. Tom turned
away with a better grace than might have been expected, and addressed
himself to Christie.

"Are you Bridget?" he asked.

"No," she said, gravely; "I'm Christie."

"Are you going to stay here?"

"Would you like me to stay?"

"No," said the boy; "I wouldn't. I like my mamma to dress me. Biddy
brushes too hard."

"But I am Christie. I'll brush very gently till your mother gets better
again. Wouldn't you like me to stay? My home is very far-away."

"How far?" asked Neddie, coming forward and standing beside his brother.

"Oh, ever so far--over the river, and over the hills, and past the
woods; away--away--away down in a little hollow by the brook."

The children looked at her with astonished eyes. She went on:

"There are birds'-nests there, and little birds that sing. Oh, you
should hear how they sing! And there are little lambs that play all day
long among the clover. And there are dandelions and buttercups, and oh!
I can't tell you how many pretty flowers besides. Whose dog is that?"
she asked, suddenly, pointing to a picture on the wall.

"It's my mamma's," said Neddie.

"Is it? He's a very pretty dog. What's his name?"

"He hasn't got any name. He's a picture," said Tom.

"Oh, yes; he has a name. His name is--Rover. Is not that a pretty
name? Come and sit down by the window, and I will tell you a story
about a dog named Rover. You like stories, don't you?"

They came slowly forward and stood beside her.

"Well, Neddie," she said to Tom. "Are you Neddie?"

"No; I'm Tom. That's Neddie."

"Oh! that's Neddie, is it? Well, Tom and Neddie, I'm going to tell you
a story about Rover. Only we must speak low, and not disturb your mamma
and baby sister. What's the baby's name, I wonder?"

"It's baby," said Neddie.

"Yes; but she must have another name besides baby."

"No, she hasn't," said Tom.

"Her name's going to be Catharine Ellinor," said Letty, forgetting her
trouble for a moment. "That's grandmamma's name."

"Oh, that's a very pretty name!" s