were alike still. One could hardly have told, as
they lay together, to which head the tangled mass of brown curls
belonged. Their eyes were the same, too, but little Claude's were
larger, and they drooped with a look of weariness and pain sad to see in
any eyes, but very, _very_ sad to see in the eyes of a child. His
forehead was larger, too,--or it seemed larger, above his thin, pale
cheeks. But not even his wan cheeks or weary eyes struck so painfully
to Christie's heart as did the sight of his little, wasted hand, white
as the pillow on which it lay. It seemed whiter and more wasted still
when it was raised for a moment to stroke his brother's rosy cheek. Oh,
how very sad it seemed! And his mother! She closed her eyes, and laid
herself back in her chair, with a sigh that was almost a groan.

Clement was very gentle, or he meant to be very gentle, with his
brother. He stroked his cheeks, and kissed him, calling him "little
brother," and "poor Claudie." And the little fellow hushed his peevish
cry, and tried to smile for a moment.

"I am going into town," said Clement; "and then we are going to spend
the day at Aunt Barbara's. They are making hay there. May Claude go?
It would make him quite well to play among the hay with me and Fanny and
Stephen. Mamma, mayn't he go? Tudie, do let Claudie go."

"Mamma, mamma, let me go. Let Mattie dress me. Oh, I want to go among
the hay!"

He came down from the sofa, and went towards his mother as fast as his
trembling limbs could carry him. She met him and received him in her
arms.

"My darling cannot go. He is not strong enough. Oh, Gertrude, how
could you let Clement come in here?"

"Mamma, I am quite well. I should be quite well if I could play among
the hay, as we used to do."

Memories of health and strength enjoyed in summer sunshine were
doubtlessly stirring at the boy's heart, to which he could give no
utterance. The look of wistful entreaty in his weary eyes went to his
mother's heart.

"My dear boy, if you only could? Oh, Gertrude! how could you be so
thoughtless?" she repeated.

"I desired Clement to stay in the nursery, and he disobeyed me," said
Gertrude, gravely.

"And now are you going to punish me?" he asked.

"Go into the nursery, and I will tell you. Go at once."

"Go away, naughty boy, and not vex your little brother," said his
mother, rocking in her arms the child, who was too weak and weary to
resist.

"I didn't vex Cla