ould
have the doors open, and I promise to be awfully careful of you, if you
really like it best," said Irene, who felt more and more charmed at the
dependence of this small creature.

"Yes, I know I'd like it best. But may I lie down here just for the
present?"

"Of course you may."

Irene herself helped to remove Agnes's boots. She laid her on the bed
and put the coverlet over her, and then rang the bell. One of the
housemaids appeared.

"I want some tea," said Irene in a lofty tone, "for little Miss Agnes
Frost. You can bring it up on a tray with cakes, and I can have some at
the same time. And please arrange the pink bedroom opening out of mine
for Miss Agnes to sleep in to-night. Do you hear? Do you understand?"

"Yes, miss, of course," said the girl, retiring in a great hurry in the
utmost amazement; for over Irene's curious, expressive little face had
come a new look--a look of protection, almost of motherhood.

She bent down and kissed little Agnes; and Agnes put her thin arms round
her neck, and said, "Oh, you are so beautiful, and so--so kind to me! Of
course, I love dear sister Emily; but she is old, and you are young. I
want somebody young--somebody like you--to be kind to me, for I am such
a timid little girl. Will you take care of me?"

"I vow I will," said Irene.

"Then you will hold my hand if I do drop asleep--for this is such a big,
strange house, and I may feel frightened?"

"No one shall frighten you while I am here," was Irene's answer.

The housemaid, the veritable Susan who had once spoken such harsh things
to Irene, presently came in with the tea-tray. Irene herself poured out
the tea and brought it to little Agnes, who drank it feverishly, and
then lay down; but she was too tired and too ill from her journey to
care to eat any cakes. Just as she was dropping off to sleep, Miss Frost
put in an anxious face.

"Run away, Frosty; run away at once. She is my charge," said Irene; and
Miss Frost, smothering the jealousy which could not but arise in her
heart, left the room.

This was a position she had not expected. Nevertheless, there was no
help for it.

"Now, I am going to munch cakes, and you shall sleep. Would you like me
to tell you a story while you are dropping off to sleep?"

"If it isn't at all frightening--if it is nice."

"I will tell you about the little princess in Hans Andersen. My darling,
my noble, my beloved Rosamund told it to me, and I will tell it to you.
Now th