ture, and poor Sophy, the nursery maid, had her hands full
enough, for nurse's command was to keep the children quiet, and not let
them come near her when packing.

Mr. Roper was leaving the library one afternoon about four o'clock,
when he saw the disconsolate little figure of Betty seated on the
stairs.

'Anything the matter?' he asked good-naturedly.

'We're going away to-morrow,' was the reply, 'and it is all topsy-turvy
upstairs. Douglas and Molly have been lions for hours, and Bobby and
Billy two monkeys, and I've been the man. I'm tired of being him, and
they won't let me change. I've broken a jug and basin, and nearly
pulled a cupboard over, and spilt a bottle of cod-liver oil all over
Billy's hair, and upset nurse's work-basket, and then I ran away and
hid, and came down here. You don't know how tiring it is to be hunted
by four animals all at once.'

Mr. Roper sat down on the stairs by her and laughed heartily. 'Poor
little hunter!' he said, 'and how does nurse bear all this raging storm
around her?'

'Oh, nurse is with mother, in the night nursery. Sophy is running
after all of us. I don't know who she pretends to be, but when I left
her she was sitting on the floor wiping Billy's hair and crying.'

Betty's tone and face were grave, and Mr. Roper stopped laughing.
'Have you been thinking over tribulation any more?' he asked.

Betty nodded.

'A lot,' she said emphatically, then shut up her little lips tightly;
and Mr. Roper knew he was to be told no more.

'Are you going into the country, Mr. Roper?' he was asked presently.

'No, indeed. I am not rich enough to have such a holiday as is in
prospect for you. I wonder what you will do with yourselves all the
time? You must come back much the better and wiser, Betty, for it.'

'Why?'

'You will be six months older, and old Mother Nature is the best
governess for little ones like you. She will teach you many a lesson,
if you keep your eyes and ears open.'

Betty's eyes were very wide open now.

'Does she live at the farm? I never heard nurse speak of her. We
don't want another governess there. How do you know her?'

'I knew her when I was a little boy, and loved her. I love her now,
but my work is in London, and I never get much chance of seeing her.'

'She must be very old,' Betty said meditatively.

'Very old; and yet every year she seems younger and more beautiful.
You will see her at her best, Betty. I shall expect you to c