Jill's Red Bag

her go! I'll make

y Christian, and I'm see

creams much louder, they'l

, and I don't care for any

ant, Jill knew it

; and a twinkle of amusement succeeded the marked disapproval in her big b

ld promise to be all that he desired, until the experience of it proved too much for her endurance. She was at present gagged and bound with bedroom towels, antim

nd thrown into the river, and that w

ver?" asked Jil

of course. Go an

But in her haste she overbalanced herself, and came with a crash to the floor. Her screams united w

" he ejaculated

' HE EJACULATED

swept to the ground the remains of the nursery tea. Broken plates, a stream of milk, and bread and butter were mingled with the entangled bodies of the three children. Bumps had escaped from the pillowca

said Jack, getting upon his feet.

Your sister is wondering if the ceiling will withstand

with dark hair and eyes and imp

nurse? And what are you doing? Don't you kn

tea. She gave u

by this time, and was rubbing

was busy releasing

ing on here," he said, eyeing Jack severely. "Is t

ack eagerly. "On my honour

es!" sobbed

the nursery bell. "Now, Jill, pick up some of these things at once. Why can't you keep Jack

that a limit must be drawn somewhere, and when the nurse appeared, considerably ruffled by her sudden recall

he drawing-room wit

ten months," she said. "What can be done wi

u get a g

small child by one, that I resolved never to give them the ch

der, and set the three delinquents in separate corners of the r

what you were like. She dances out to all her gaieties with that lazy Miss Webb, who's in a field of clover if any one is, and expects me to grind on in this four-walled room without a friend to keep me company. I

arter of an hour, then dared them at the peril of their lives to m

bserved Jill plaintively. "I

od," said Jack; "it may do grown-up people go

we're always shut up in this old nursery. When I grow up I shall live

oss at his sist

ld you do when

ay, of cour

he robber, and you can leave all the doors open to give y

ng her thumb from her mouth, whic

Christian without screaming the house down! But you've done one good

her head

one! I wish we could do without them, like

they're poor-Geo

oor?" ask

no money," ex

't no money,"

y she was an heiress, and that's an awfully grand thin

"We'll have a kind of 'Puss in the Corner.' Our chairs will be

y," objecte

s Webb!" sh

om as he spoke, and saved the situation, for

, and Mona was the daughter of his first wife. Miss Webb, a cousin of Mr. Baron's, had taken charge of the household after his death; but when Mon

ough they did not see much of her, and

restored," she said, smiling. "Why, you are as quiet a

aid Jill. "We've been here ages. Do

l," said Miss Webb, taking a seat by the n

came to her

bout it. What

ooks she had, and talk to me about them. I had no brothers and sisters, and I used to be allowed to dine with her and

th and a wistful look in her eyes; "but

s Webb, pity filling her heart for the chil

ood, but she's always out, and sh

in the drawing-room?

the moment, "you shall. Nurse has made y

back in an easy-chair by the fire. A butler was removing the tea, and Captain Willoughby was standing, hat in hand, s

laughing. "Bringing them in their right minds to

are going to sing some hymns. I thou

ated her

in Willoughby, "but I've promised my mother

went to the piano. Then she twirled round o

is this?" she

looked at

ved the problem. She said it was because they have no mother. I reminded them t

no, her little sisters and brother clustered round her, a

, "Thinging hymns in the drawn-room is ne

ing them there?

promptly, "Befor