tired, poor baby!" he said. "She wants to go in and go to sleep
for an hour. You have a headache, haven't you, little un?"

"Yes," replied Agnes. "My head aches rather badly. It is the train--it
always makes me feel sick."

"Then shall I take you into the house?" said Irene.

She forgot Hugh, to Hugh's own amazement. She took Agnes' tiny hand and
led her toward the house. Miss Frost longed to follow; but Rosamund held
her back.

"No, no. On no account go with them," she said. "Let Irene feel that she
has got possession of the little one at once. You see how confidently
Agnes gave her hand. That is the best possible sign. Let her take her to
her room and see after her comforts."

Irene--who never before in all her life had any creature to look up to
her, who was looked down upon with terror and shunned by her
fellow-creatures, with the exception of Rosamund, who ruled her,
although with the weapons of love--felt an altogether new sensation now
as the little creature, not so old as herself, clung to her confidently.

"I shall be glad to lie down," said little Agnes. "Have you ever gone
long journeys by train, and does your head ache?"

"No, I haven't gone long journeys by train; but I will take you to your
room and draw down the blinds, and you can go to sleep."

"May I? That is what I want more than anything else. If I could sleep
for half-an-hour I should feel better."

"You shall, of course," said Irene.

She walked slowly through the house, holding this small, dependent
creature by the hand. Was she not her guest? She forgot all about poor
Miss Frost, whose heart was devoured with jealousy; for little Agnes, in
the olden times, had clung to her. Now she clung close to Irene.

"You are so nice," she said, "and so pretty! I am glad I am coming to
spend the holidays with you."

"Are you?" said Irene, with a queer look.

James the footman saw them as they went upstairs; and Lady Jane stood at
the drawing-room door, but made no sign.

Irene presently reached the small but very prettily arranged room which
the little girl was to occupy.

"This room opens out of Frosty's," she said.

"Who is Frosty?" asked the child.

"My governess, of course, and your sister."

"Oh! but I'd rather sleep in a room opening out of yours. Can't I? Of
course, I'm very fond of my dear sister Emily; but you are so fresh, and
I think you will take care of me."

"There is a tiny room which you could have next to mine, and we c