CHAPTER I.

LADY ANNE.

y dear, I have consulted mother about Jenny, and she agrees with me that she would be better at home, now," said Mrs. Hamlin, of Altafort, to her husband, as they sat at breakfast in their pleasant parlour; while their youngest child, a little girl between three and four years of age, nursed her doll in the recess of one of the windows.

"I do not see how she could be better anywhere than with your mother; and I am sure it would be

a trial to Mrs. Armstrong to part with the child after having had her for so long."

"I am afraid it will; indeed, she acknowledged to me that she could scarcely bear to think of it. But Jenny is growing up very fast, and she needs the society of other children to prevent her being a young lady too soon. It is not good for children to be always with grown-up people; and there are a number of corners about Jenny that will never have a chance of being rubbed off if she stays at her grandmamma's."

"I daresay you are right, so do as you and your mother think best. The sea-bathing has made a fine healthy girl of her, at any rate; and we can't be too grateful both to your mother and Lizzie for their care of her."

Neither Mr. nor Mrs. Hamlin observed that the little girl in the window was eagerly listening to every word that passed. Tooney-or Baby, as she still often called herself and was called by othersknew that Jenny was her eldest sister, whom she scarcely remembered to have seen, but whose name. she had been taught to mention in her prayers every night and morning, after her big brother Pierce's and before that of her sister Netta's. It surprised her very much to hear her mother speak of Jenny as she had done. She pondered the matter in her busy little brain, without being able to understand it at all; and as soon as her parents left the room,

was in the day, she must be ready for bed, and tucking her head under her own arm, began hushing her to sleep.

In spite of Lady Anne's aristocratic name, she was by no means an elegant doll, being made of calico stuffed with wool. Netta had sewed on her nose, and Pierce had marked out her eyes, mouth, and eyebrows with ink. Netta had also knitted her one amber stocking, and was engaged on its fellow; but Baby would not wait for it to be finished. She declared that Lady Anne had gout in one of her feet, and that the doctor had ordered her to wear a warm stocking on it; and the taking off and putting on of that one stocking became a very important part of her ladyship's toilet.

"I say, Baby, did you see my Latin Grammarthe book with the smooth yellow cover?" asked Pierce, coming dashing into the room, with his curly hair all tossed, after a romp in the garden with Netta.

Baby sawed it on the hall chair. Don't make a noise, Lady Anne is asleep."

"Asleep, is she? Why, she was wide awake a bit ago. I saw you through the window talking to her as hard as you could. What was it all about?

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"Truly, Pierce, Baby cannot tell any one but Lady Anne, because it is a secret," answered Tooney, pursing up her red mouth, and making her eyes very round.