ent to the upper
shelves.

"What's the matter, to-night, Teddy?" he asked, sympathetically
tweaking the end of her long brown pigtail.

"The weather, I think," she replied, as she threw a dish-towel at him.
"I don't like to wash dishes, and I don't like rainy days, and I don't
like--"

"Nothin' nor nobody. Never mind filling up the list. You've a crick in
your temper, that's all. It will be gone in the morning. Here, give me a
towel, and I'll help wipe."

It was a service he had often performed before. The twins were close
friends, and some of their most confidential talks had been held over
the steaming dish-water. They finished their task together; then Hubert
linked his arm in that of his sister and came out into the dining-room,
where Hope, with the stocking still drawn on over her hand, was vainly
trying to rescue Allyn from the torments imposed on him by Phebe.

"Don't, Babe," she urged. "Don't you see how it makes him cry? Why can't
you let him alone? He is always cross at bedtime."

"So are you," Phebe retorted defiantly. "When she comes, Hope McAlister,
I do hope she'll give it to you good."

Hope flushed, and her sensitive chin quivered a little.

"Let's hope not," she said gently. "Do be quiet, there's a dear Babe. It
is almost your bedtime."

"But I sha'n't go to bed," proclaimed Phebe rebelliously.

"Phebe!"

Experience had taught her that Sister Hope, gentle as she was, must be
obeyed when she spoke in that tone, and Phebe sullenly yielded to the
inevitable and became quiet.

Meanwhile, Theodora had pounced upon Allyn, caught him up in her strong
young arms, cuddled his fluffy yellow head against her cheek, and gone
away upstairs, whither Phebe followed them with a crushing dignity which
sought for no good-night kiss. Hubert cast himself down on the old sofa
and fell to rummaging his sister's basket. He smiled a little, as she
showed him the vast hole in the toe of his sock; but it was some minutes
before he spoke. Then he said slowly,--

"Never mind, Hope. It's in the air, and we all feel it."

He was silent again. Upstairs, they could hear the _tap_, _tap_ of
Teddy's energetic heels, as she moved to and fro, settling the two
children for the night. Then she was still, while Allyn's shrill,
childish treble rose in his evening petition,--

"Now I lay me down a shleep,
I tray a Lo' la tol a teep,
I ta die afo' I wake,
Tray a Lo' la tol a take.
It I at a Jedu' shlake. A-nen!"