sibilities are half as nice as I thought they would be."

Curly looked dreadfully put out and aggrieved. It seemed to him as though his young charges were behaving in an altogether outrageous manner, and he did not much care how soon he washed his hands of his responsibilities. It was almost a relief to see Hannah's portly figure in the doorway. It was only anticipating the surprise by a few hours, if as much. And perhaps she would be able to make these troublesome babies good again.

The look upon Hannah's face as she advanced into the attic was a study for a comic painter. Dismay, consternation, astonishment, bewilderment, all struggled there for mastery as she beheld the two babies lying upon the bed together, Curly standing beside them with a very red and disturbed face. There was, however, no shame or shrinking in the gaze that he turned upon his nurse, and he appealed to her with the greatest confidence and good faith.

"Oh, Hannah, do you understand babies ?-for I don't think I do as well as I thought I did. We've got these two to give to Phyl and Tor, and they always used to laugh and crow, and to-day they won't do anything but cry and be naughty. Please make them good, and then we'll dress them ready. It's the surprise we've got for Phyl and Tor on

their birthday. Don't you think it's a very nice surprise?"

"Goodness gracious, Master Curly, my dear! wherever did you get them from?"

"Oh, from a horrid, cross woman, a sort of gipsy, who had lots of them-more than she wanted; and Molly said she was sure I might have these two. I don't want them to grow up wicked like the rest, and I know Phyl wants another baby to play with hers, only Tor thinks it too expensive to get her another just yet. So we've got two for a surprise. Don't you think it will be a great surprise?"

Hannah did not laugh-the laughing over the episode came later on; she was too confounded and bewildered by it all now to do anything but gasp and gape. Sitting down on the edge of the bed, she looked at the two children and motioned the boys back.

"Mas

"The bairns are sick," she said at once. ter Bunny, take Master Curly away to the nursery, and send word that I want to see Mrs. Blake up here, if she will be so good as to step this way. Where did these little creatures come from, and where is their own mother?"

66

They came from the quarry-those huts where the gipsy people live," answered Curly, readily; "but it isn't any use wanting their mother, she

couldn't come-she's busy. Her other children have got the measles, and Molly said that's one reason why these won't ever be missed. She sent them away to live with Pat, because she was busy looking after the others. That's one reason why I got them so easily just in time for the surprise."

CHAPTER XVIII

CURLY nipped Bunny's hand tightly in his. His face was rather disturbed.

66

What is it?" he asked.

"Is she angry? Why

did she send us away so quick?"

"I don't know—not exactly. I don't think she likes the babies, Curly. And I think she is rather frightened."

"What about?"

"I don't exactly know.

Perhaps she is afraid

what Granny may say. Oh, Curly, I'm afraid perhaps it was naughty to bring them away here." Curly's face looked very serious.

"I didn't think it was naughty; I'd have told, if it hadn't been for a surprise. Bunny, if it's been naughty, let's go and tell Granny ourselves, now. I always promised I would if I did anything else naughty again.”

Bunny looked down at their soiled blouses,— Curly's was well spattered with bread-and-milk,— and said,

"We must dress ourselves properly first. We can't go down to Granny like this.'

"Come along, then," cried Curly, eagerly.

"All

our nice things are put out ready. We sha'n't be long, and Granny will be at breakfast. Come on."

In a very short time the little brothers had effected a decided improvement in their personal appearance. Nothing could well have looked more spruce and attractive than the little pair of brothers in their clean, white sailor-suits, with their wellbrushed hair and well-scrubbed hands and faces, as they made their way down the great staircase to the door of the dining-room. As they neared this, they heard the sound of a laugh-Tor's unmistakable laugh-and Curly's face kindled into an eager smile.

"I declare, they've come already; how nice!"

"It will be easier telling Granny when Tor is there," added Bunny. "He always laughs, and Granny has to laugh too."

"I don't see that there's anything to laugh at," answered Curly, a little hurt. a little hurt. "But I'm glad Phyl will be there. She can say how much she wanted some more babies."

Hand-in-hand the little brothers approached the door and opened it. There, on each side of the breakfast-table, sat Phyl and Tor, talking to each other unconcernedly enough. But the place behind the silver urn was vacant. Granny had evidently been summoned away, for it was plain she had been there by the look of her plate and cup.