68 A Puzzle.

This is a curious picture, I must say. Can
anything be funnier than three people sitting in
bed under umbrellas? Let us think what can
be the reason of this behaviour. I fear their
roof cannot be water-tight: This is a kind little
girl, who knows that these people are very poor,
and she has come to see them; perhaps to
bring them something to eat from her mother,
who lives near. Just fancy her surprise, when

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she finds the whole family sitting in bed under
umbrellas. They were obliged to go to bed, I
should tell you, because they had been out in
the rain, and got their clothes wet. You ask me,
Cissy dear, how it happens, if they are so poor,
that they have three good umbrellas. I confess
that puzzles me. I am afraid my story will not
suit, after all. I cannot guess at the meaning of
the picture ; so let us leave it to the imagina-
tion of each person who sees it.