Rosy

l look up

upboard to mak

OF LILLI

tay in bed, so she dressed him as usual. But at breakfast he rested his head on his hand, looking very doleful, "

fter breakfast, and she loo

reminded her of all the children's illnesses Fixie had not had, and which often look l

he, Aunt Edith, came down to the drawing-room, a little earlier than usual

Felix not being well, and that was why she ha

ying what his illness may be going to be. But, Lillias, o

these things, for you see all the years I was in India I had only Fixie, and he was qui

even smallpox. Who knows but what it may be smallpox

d the risk, for I think there is much more danger for Bee than for Rosy, for Bee, like Fixie, has had none of the

incent, "the dear child can sleep in my room. Nel

foolish thoughts and fancies which she had hoped Rosy was beginning to forget. "It will not be necessary to settle so much till we hear what the doctor says.

were told on no account to go into either of the nurseries. Fixie was not sorry to go to bed; he had been so dull all the morning, playing by himself in a comer of the nursery, but he cried a little

tantly running off to her aunt's room, or to ask Nelson about something or other, and Bee did not like to follow her, for s

e said to Rosy, "if Master Fixie's gon

my room. Bee's room has a door out into the other passage, I heard mamma saying we could sleep there

did not approve of

t's afraid of infection. If it's measles that Master Fix

she was about, off Rosy had rushed to confide this new trouble to Bee, and hear what she would say

be very ill. Any way, Rosy, I don't think Nelson should have said that.

ning round, Beata saw that Nelson was standing in the doorway, for she had followed Rosy, a little afraid of the effect o

e said, "but I'm sure it is better to w

ked off in a huff, muttering some

. "She always gets on with me quite well. I shall have to go and ge

stayed alone, her ey

e since they came. I'll write to mother and ask her not to leave me here any longer. I

to be good was tried; when all is smooth and pleasant and every one kind and loving, what is easier than to be kind and pleasant in return? It is when others are not kind, but sharp and suspicious and selfish, that one has to "try" to

of her good resolutions, for she hardly saw Rosy again all day, and when they were going to bed Nelson came to help Rosy to undress and went on talking to her so much all the time about people and plac

or anything, are you, Rosy?

Rosy answered. "I wish you wouldn't go on like that, Bee,

omfort poor Bee could

that it was only a sort of feverish attack brought on by his having somehow or other caught cold,

ith them, for though she had done her best to be patient and cheerful, nothing was the same as before the coming of Rosy's aunt. Rosy scarcely seemed to care to play with her at all. Her whole time, when not at her lessons, was spent in her aunt's room, generally with Nelson, who was never tired of a

fully how lonely Bee's life now was, and how many cold or unkind words she had to bear from Rosy, not to speak of Nelson's sharp and almos

when she went into the nursery, where, at this t

, she went on eagerly, "Do look, mamma, at the lovely opera-cloak Nelson

s Rosy, darling

ows," said Rosy sharply, "there's white stuff to

lushed with pleasure, for nobody could b

t, and Mrs. Vincent would have felt really pleased if only she had not feared that Nelson did Rosy harm

fond of being alone now, mamma. And I don

aid Mrs. Vincent. "Are you

ndeed many's the time I say to myself Miss Rosy's patience is quite wonderful. Such a free, outspoken young lady

said Mrs. Vincent, very coldly. "I know you are very kind to Ros

incent's manner had something in it whic

offence," she said so

rying to write, to her mother. Her letters, whic

e said to herself, "but I can't write to tell her

r opened and Mrs.

not be more cheerful in the nursery wi

nning a letter to mamma. B

you moping alone. You must be my bright little Bee-you w

tle brightness in her tone, and Mrs.

ally anything t

to speak to her against Aunt Edith and Nelson

e schoolroom Mrs. Vin

e wanted it. It was because she had had a letter that morning from Mr. Furnivale asking her to tell him how many beads there were on Rosy's neckla

ly and dull though it was. When she got to the nursery she gave Rosy her mother's message,

id Nelson crossly, "if there's

mamma," said Rosy. "You may play w

on as she could. Five or ten minutes passed, and then the d

hunted everywhere. And somebody must have taken it, for I always put it

answer. Her face looked

Rosy," she repeated

it on for a good while. You know that time I slept in your room, Bee, while Fixie was ill, I got out of the way of wearing it. Bu

It was there the day I h

ed sharpl

e said, "I don't believe I've looked at

ntreated, clasping her hands, for Rosy's face was growing redder and redder, and her eyes

necklace the day she had had it out for Pixie, and she was so distressed at the loss that she was quite ready to get i

k did put it back that day, Miss Rosy dear," she said. "For I saw it late that evening when I was putting your things away to help Martha as Master Fixie was ill." She did not explain th

e, and look for it," said Rosy, rather softening

p and laying aside her work. "I'll go with you, Miss Rosy, and if it's in your room I'll und

besides, she had a miserable feeling that if it was never found she would somehow be blamed for its loss. A quarter of

it, Rosy?" she

g behind. The first person that came in was

about Rosy's necklace. Tell me al

e it to play with," began Bee,

uite sure-you never

"I never touch Rosy's th

g to say you'd better say it now, before Mrs. Vincent," said Bee, in a t

true. Nelson was too clever to say anything right out. She had only hinted and looked wise about the

sed at you, Bee, for losing your temper about being simply asked if you had seen the necklace. You might have forgotten at first if you had had i

heart swelled more and mor

to find out if Fixie could have taken it. I will write to Martha at

ught only disappointment. "Master Fixie," Martha wrote, "knew nothing of Miss Rosy's necklace." He could not remember having had it to play with at all,

fternoon," said Mrs. Vincent. "He generally has such a good m

ut each bead," the little girl replied. And her voi

word she said, as she once would have done. But she did give very strict orders that nothing more was to be said about the necklace, for though Nelson had not dared to hint anything unkind about Bee to Mrs

to Beata, but Rosy's cold manner a

ear for the long looked for