p the corner of my handkerchief in the brook
sometimes and wash her little face for her, so as she might go home
to her mother looking clean. Look, here is a little brook, shall I
wash yours over a bit, like I used to mother's?"

"Oh, please, please," cried Jessie delightedly.

So by the wayside they stopped and made quite a little toilette, her
face and hands were washed, and her hair put back neatly under her
shabby hat, and then they went on again.

Patience Dawson, looking anxiously out of the window, saw them at
last arrive at the gate, and her heart almost stood still with
excitement and nervousness. "Why, it might be five and twenty years
ago, and Thomas be bringing in Lizzie herself!" she gasped. Her face
flushed, tears suddenly brimmed over and down her cheeks. She longed
to run down the garden and take the little child in her arms and hold
her to her heart, but a sudden shyness came over her and held her
fast. She could only stand there and watch them and wait.

She saw her husband looking eagerly from window to door, expecting to
see her; she saw the little child face turned excitedly from side to
side, exclaiming at the sight of the flowers, and sniffing in the
scent.

"Oh, granp, smell the 'warriors'!" she heard her cry in a perfectly
friendly voice. "You sniff hard and you'll smell them. Oh, my!"

"She's friends with him already, same as Lizzie was. I wish I knew
how to--" But her wish she only sighed, she did not put it into
words.

"Never mind the flowers now, little maid; here's granny inside
waiting for us." Then he put her down on her feet, and led her over
the threshold.

Patience, dabbing the tears from her eyes with her handkerchief,
stepped forward to meet them. "I'd begun to wonder what had become
of 'ee, father," she said. "I s'pose the train was late.
Well, dear," stooping to kiss her little grandchild, "how are you?
Have you got a kiss for granny?"

"Yes," Jessie nodded gravely, "and my face is very clean," she added,
as she put it up to be kissed. But she turned and slipped her hand
into her grandfather's again as soon as the kiss was given, for she
felt a little awed and shy with this granny, who seemed so much more
grown-up and stern than did the grandfather.

Her shyness did not last very long, though; by the time granny had
taken her up to her room and shown her the rose-bush, and taken off
her hat and brushed out her hair, and brought her down to tea and
lifted