Netta thought it would be dishonourable to repeat what she had overheard; and in the various holiday enjoyments Jenny forgot what she had

CHAPTER IX.

LEFT ALONE.

OOD-BYE, Jenny, dear, I will depend on you taking care of Tooney," said Mrs. Hamlin,

as Jenny tucked the rug well in at her feet, one cold day in the middle of January.

"I will indeed, mamma," answered Jenny, earnestly.

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And let me see what a good housekeeper you will be when I am away."

"I will be very careful," protested Jenny. "But don't stint Rose, or yourself and Tooneythat is a fault young housekeepers are apt to fall into from over-carefulness."

Are you all ready there?" called Mr. Hamlin from the other side of the car; and after bidding her mother and Netta good-bye once more, Jenny

stepped back out of the way, and stood watching as Alick gathered up the reins and drove off.

She stood on the steps waving her handkerchief till the car was hid by a bend of the avenue. The last she saw of it, Netta was waving her handkerchief also, and her mother was looking back, smiling. Jenny could not see the smile at that distance, but she knew it was there, and that it was a smile of approbation as well as love.

Her father, mother, and Netta were going to Mrs. Armstrong's; and Jenny was to have gone too, and had been looking forward eagerly to the visit. The drive was considered too long for Tooney in winter, and it had been arranged that she was to be left at home in the care of the two servants. Bridget, the kitchenmaid, had lived many years in the family, and Mrs. Hamlin had confidence in Rose also; so that she had no fear in leaving Tooney with them. But unfortunately Bridget was sent for that very morning to see her mother, who had been taken dangerously ill. Mrs. Hamlin did not like to leave Tooney with Rose alone; she did not like to disappoint her mother, who expected them, by postponing their visit, and she did not like to disappoint Jenny by leaving her to take care of the child, so she did not know what to do.

Jenny saw her mother's perplexity.

"Could not Netta look after Tooney?" she suggested.

H

"No, my dear; Netta is too young to be left in charge of everything."

There was a great struggle in Jenny's breast for a minute; she knew that she ought to propose to remain at home herself, but she was so anxious to go to Rabbit Island that she felt as if she could not bear to be left behind. But she prayed a little prayer in her heart to be helped to do right, and not be selfish, and then she said, brightly:

"I will stay at home, if you like, mamma.”

'I would like it very much, dear, only that I know what a disappointment it would be to you." "Never mind, that, mamma; better for me to be disappointed than grandmamma."

But though Jenny spoke so cheerfully, she could not help shedding some tears over the sacrifice she had made. She was comforted, however, by the feeling of having done what was right, and won the approbation of her mother; and she knew, too, how much easier it was to make the sacrifice of her own accord, than if her mother had required it of her.

By the time the car drove off, Jenny was quite reconciled to be left behind, and had begun to think that it would be nice to have Tooney to herself all day. Rose would be so busy doing Bridget's work as well as her own, that she would have no time to interfere; which Jenny thought would be a great comfort.

She was still standing, trying to catch another glimpse of the car through the trees, when she was roused by Rose calling to her from the kitchen:

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Miss Jenny, do you want to give Baby her death, keeping her standing out there in the cold, without anything on her?"

She has on both her hood and cape," Jenny answered; and turning to Tooney, who was standing on the steps, she said, "You are not cold, are you, darling?”

"Yes, Tooney is very cold."

"Cold lovey ? why, your hand is quite hot."

'Tooney's head is hot, too; there are little shivers running all down her back like ever so as well."

"Come into the parlour, and we'll have a game at horses; that will soon warm you."

"Baby doesn't want horses to-day; she wants to sit at the fire and be told stories."

"But I have not time to tell you stories yet; I have all the cups to wash up-you come and help me."

"Baby doesn't want to help to wash cups; she wants stories!" answered the child, fretfully. Jenny took her on her knee and began telling her a story; but before she had half finished it, Tooney said, "At's enough-horses now," and got down off her knee; so that Jenny was obliged to pull up short, which is very provoking for a story-teller.

But