16 HOME-SICK.

and papa," seemed to bring up a great ball into
her throat, and she could get no further. "Oh
dear, dear," she cried, burying her face in nurse's
lap, "mamma is so very far away; and I want
her, I want her ever so much, and I never can be
happy away from her! "
 Mrs. Bevan petted her, and did all in her power
to comfort her. "Of course, dear, it is natural
you should want mamma," she said, laying her in
her little cot-bed. "You'll be a big lady very
soon, and then you will go back to her, or mamma
will come to you. I think that would be the
best way-don't you ?-then she could see all
your pets. Such a lot of things you will have to
show her. I wonder how she would like to see a
pair of rabbits, white ones, with pink eyes ?"
 Bertha dried her eyes, and gave the ball in her
throat a great gulp down at the thought of the
white rabbits with pink eyes. Oh yes, nurse,"
she said, I really think she would."
 Well, dear," said cunning old nurse, quite'de-
lighted to see the rabbits had had such a cheering
effect upon Bertha, "we must go to sleep now,
and to-morrow we shall ask Mr. Bevan if he knows
where we can get them. I should say there will
be lots in the market next week; and, if we are
 332)