WINNING THE BOOK. 15

“You really, really, really won’t?”

“I promised I wouldn't.”

“Then Dll read the book aloud to you some
day,” said Nellie.

When they reached the doctor’s house she
took the basket into her own hands.

“There! you go on, and I'll come soon.”

Harry looked surprised and disappointed,
but he was too fond of Nellie to complain or
find fault with anything she did. So he went
on by himself, and Nellie turned in at the
doctor’s gate.

Miss Rayner herself came to the door, when
she heard on what errand the little girl had
come. She took the basket, and seemed almost
inclined to drop a tear on its occupant’s fur.

“T did so much hope it would be found
alive,’ she said sadly. “Never mind, dear,
you shall have your reward all the same.
Where did you find poor Pussy?”

“She was lying—in the ditch—outside Croft
Wood,” stammered Nellie, blushing deeply, and
looking down at her fingers.

“Just as I expected,” said Miss Rayner, half
to herself. “Shot by one of Mr. Cooper’s keepers
and then thrown over into the ditch, poor thing,