e. It is like a rabbit-warren."

"Really!" said Leonard.

"It swarms with old and young--young ones mostly. Too many of 'em. We
ought not to grieve too much when they are taken from this hard world
to rest and safety. But the mothers do grieve, poor things!--and the
fathers too."

"Perhaps you have lost a child lately," said Leonard, very gently.

"He was buried yesterday."

They went on in silence until they turned into a street which appeared
to begin much better than it ended. Leonard's guide said, "Here we
are; this is your street."

"Oh, thank you; but don't come any further." And Leonard began to
fumble in his pocket for a half-crown.

"It is my street too," said the poor man.

"All right then. I want No. 103."

"I live at 103 myself."

"That is curious. Do you know a Mr. Mitchell in that house?"

"I know him pretty well; I am Thomas Mitchell."

Then Leonard shook hands heartily with his guide, and as they walked
slowly along the cooler side of the street he unfolded all the plans
which Mr. Burnet had made for the Mitchell family. They were already
known in part to the father and mother, but the children had not been
informed of what was in store for them. Mrs. Mitchell had thought that
such a prospect would excite them greatly, and that their
disappointment would be great if anything occurred at the last moment
to upset the plan.

But now it must be declared.

All the children were at home, it being holiday-time. Juliet sat at
needlework, Albert was carpentering an old wooden box and turning it
into a cupboard; the younger ones were playing with some firewood, and
building castles with it. Mrs. Mitchell was stitching at one more
mantle, and thinking over every little incident of her baby's life and
death.

Into the midst of this quiet scene came Leonard Burnet, full of life
and vigour, and overflowing with the happy message he had brought. He
told them of the pretty cottage with honeysuckle on the porch, of the
garden full of cauliflowers and scarlet-runners, of the clear bright
river, of the open fields, of the shady woods, the winding lanes, and
of all the pleasant things of rural life. Then he spoke of Mr. and
Mrs. Rowles, and the lock, and the boats; of Philip and Emily; of the
good vicar and Mrs. Webster; of Mrs. Bosher's brother, and the horses,
cows, pigs, and poultry which he possessed.

How strange it all seemed to Juliet! How far away, and yet how well
known! She was the only one o