s arms, and wrapped up, head and all, in an old tartan shawl.
Flossy, holding the bag, walked by her brother's side, and Snip-snap
behaved in his usual erratic fashion, now running before, now lingering
behind, now stopping to exchange a greeting with a fellow-dog, or to
sniff with watering jaws and wistful eyes at a butcher's shop, but always
returning faithfully to his charge, and always raising an inquiring face
to see if Dickory was quite comfortable. She was thoroughly so, and when
she crowed, and laughed, and chuckled, Flossy wondered they had never
thought of taking her out before. The sun was shining and the day was
bright and warm, with the promise of spring in it, and the two children
were highly delighted with their scheme, and not a bit afraid of the
result. The only thing which had at all alarmed them was the fear that
Mrs Franklin or Martha might find out their little plan before they had
time to carry it into effect.

Having succeeded in getting quite away with the baby, they considered
their difficulties at an end. Peter was old enough to know that a
crooked halfpenny did not mean much, considered as a provision for three
human beings and a dog; but he was still sufficiently young to have
perfect confidence in the capabilities of sixpence for meeting the
demands of the hour. As they walked along, Flossy, Dickory, and Snip-
snap were all very happy, and Peter too was happy, although his arms
ached sadly. But, alas! the paths of the poor little adventurers were
not to be without thorns.

The time was April, and an April shower first damped the ardour of the
travellers--the poor baby's shawl was wet through, and she began to cry
pitifully with hunger and want of sleep.

'She must want her milk,' said Peter; 'there, Dickory, there's a darling,
now go to sleep like the dear baby you are.'

'You know, Peter, she won't go to sleep without her milk,' said Flossy.
'I'll run across to that milk-shop and buy some. How much milk shall I
get, Peter?'

'A ha'p'orth,' said Peter; 'you get a ha'p'orth, Flossy, and we'll sit
down on the step of this empty house and feed the baby, and eat up our
crusts ourselves.'

A bottle to hold the milk was to be found in Flossy's bag, and
accordingly in a short time Dickory had a meal; not quite what she was
accustomed to, but sufficient to soothe her off into a slumber in which
she forgot the discomfort of her damp clothes and all her other baby
tribulations.

'Floss