THE NORTHCROFT LILIES.

which nothing could be seen, at the best of times,
but roofs and spires, and to-day a dismal fog shut out
all but the tree. Gertrude went to the window for
one moment, and then rushed down again into the
kitchen. Oh, cook, I never fed the birds this
morning" and snatching up some bread, she was
flying up again, when she met nurse.
 "Now, Miss Gertrude," she said, if you are
going upstairs, I'll thank you not to make a noise,
for baby's only just asleep, and Jane's with the rest,
and your mamma wants me."
 All right, nurse !"
 Gertrude scattered the crumbs on the window
ledge outside, and then, as quietly as she could,
opened the cupboard door, and began to turn over
the rubbish.
 How many dolls she found with only one leg
apiece, and guiltless of hair! how many headless
horses, and loose bricks, and lotto cards, it would be
difficult to say; but out of the mass of rubbish, where
skipping-ropes twined affectionately round dilapidated
hoops and forlorn-looking shuttlecocks with only a
feather or two left, and where painted toys of various
descriptions had found a resting-place in an old broken
drum, she managed to pull out many an old picture
once admired, then thrown in carelessly as worthless,
and, all crumpled and untidy, looked very hopeless
indeed.
 "Here's glorious work for Effie !" she said to
herself; she dearly loves making things tidy, and I
am sure she has a famous opportunity now."
 Treasure after treasure she pulled out; one after
another she threw aside the broken toys; and when
she heard the door open and a footstep behind her,
she said, gaily, "There, nurse, you may clear out the
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