Rosy

uite contrary.

s of everything, and all she had to think over of what had happened in the day, had

id a voice which Bee knew in a

awake. I'm not a bit s

nt. "Rosy is fast asleep. I have just been in to look a

go to sleep so quick the first night-while

were-just at first. Don't be afraid I wo

ng up and looking at Rosy's mother quite brightly. "I

nd was it not then the strange feeling that ma

hesi

to be a 'make-up mother' for a while, you must talk to

d said of the bad temper Rosy had been in at tea-time-had made her afraid there had been some reason she did

ow what's right to do. Isn't i

Vincent, in her turn, was silent f

rather I did not as

ed Bee, "much

ise me that if the same thing make

't right to tell tales," she added so innocently t

that I may explain it or put it right. I could not do my duty among you and my other children unless I knew how things were. I

about it. I'll promise to tell you if anything makes me unhappy, really unhappy, but

assed through Rosy's room she stopped a moment by the bed-side and looked at the sleeping child. Nothing could be prettier than Rosy asleep-her lovely fair hair made a sort of

out angrily. Then again, a nicer look came over her face and she

g," she said, and her mother t

ou do know what is right and sweet. When wil

*

was only too delighted to join Rosy and Colin for a run before breakfast. Children are children all the world over-luckily for themselves and luckily for other people too-and even children who are sometimes ill-tempered and unkind are sometimes, too, bright and happy and

ta. "May he not come out a

will make him ill, and I am sure it's much more likely to make him ill

tha cross," said Colin. "And cert

You don't see her half as much as I do.

n, and again Bee felt that sort of nervous fear of quarrels or disagreeables which it was imposs

he said, without taking any

brary window. But you must give me a little st

y all the same, and she began considering ho

as settled, off they set. B

id, laughing. "Look here, Colin and Rosy, there's th

es," said Rosy. Then, safely sheltered behi

or once. You're a cross, mean, pretending creature. You make everybody say you're so pretty and so sweet when real

aid Beata. "Cats don't un

e away, Bee, do. Quick, quick.

off, but Colin stayed beh

, Rosy, and to say he is very much obliged to you for the pretty things you said to him, and the next ti

face

in a fury. She was frightened as well as angry,

gain, looking quite serious. "I h

T IS ZE MATTER WIF

of a smile on Bee's face it would have made her still m

inking to herself. "It does so spoil everythin

lowed the others to the nursery. They did not seem to care-Colin was already whi

Bee and held up his fres

he said. "You's c'ying. Colin, L

are you, Bee?

osy, coming close to her

more quickly. All the children looked sorry, a

," she said. "Do tell me," she w

r arms round

"I'm afraid of vexing you. But, oh,

" said

with Colin or anybody, and I wish

"Oh, that wasn't anything-y

h, dear Rosy, don't be vexed with me, but please do

, but neither did she s

ve lived alone with big people always that you're like that. I daresay y

d Bee. "Do you really

least if you do a little. Anyway, it would be better than

e, and I'm sure I don't want to pretend. I don't ever pretend like that, Rosy. Won't you believe me? I don't know what I can say to ma

e Colin teases me I know I shall leave off wanting to be good. I shall want nothing at all except just to give him a good hard slap-really to hurt him, you know.

ice was heard calling

're ready. Do leave us alone. Just when we're talking so

say anything like that to you, for fear you should think

lau

ey came in, she said to Martha with wonderful amiability, "We aren't very hungry this mornin

ice it was easy to see she was pleased. "It is never a good thing to go ou

't forgotten his promise to sit "aside Losy." "It was her turn

we liked to sit together, and how hot it was sometimes

were hot! And the poor youn

her, Fixie? What a

ot rath

myself," he said, "but mamma telled me abo

eaking, but she thought to herself it was very

's got well?" said R

led me," s

ung lady's father's going to come to see us som

"yes, I think it was so

olin, "it couldn't be t

Bee, "it wa

ething like it. We'll ask mamma. He is goin

emembered about it, and

ming to see us soon, mamma?" he said-"the gentleman whos

een all these months in Italy, and they are going to stay there through next winter, but Mr. Furnivale is in England o

nd of him," said

ook came ove

nd not me," she said to herself. "I hate people

ent on; "he will be quite pleased to see you. He says Cecili

ng a little and smiling. Lillias was Mrs. Vincent's name, and it had been fixed that Beata should call her "aunt," for to say "Mrs. Vincent

w anything about what you're talking of, and I don't want to hea

after her, but Mrs.

is so very foolish, it i

k Rosy's tempers of very much consequence, Be

w I do wish I could do anything to

after the children all said good-night. Rather to Bee's surprise, Rosy, who had hidden hersel

e I never spoke like that to my mamma, but if ever I had,

When she was undressed she went into the nursery for a moment to ask Martha

e ill?"

led. Miss Rosy's been in to say good-night to

ver him to say good-night. "Losy's been 'peaking to me, and

had said, though she had not told any one so. And the thought of it kept Bee from going to sleep