HOW GLADYS PLAYED WITH THE CHILDREN.

“WuatT untidy children!” said Gladys, staring at three
children who were standing at a cottage door; ‘‘I shouldn’t,
like to play with them, Nurse.” The three children stared
back at Gladys. “Isn't she fine?” said the girl. ‘And
isn't she stuck up?” said one of the boys. ‘But isn’t
she pretty?” said the other. Nurse was not looking at
the children; she was watching the black clouds, and ‘the
drops of rain which were beginning to fall. The girl saw
the rain, too, and ran across the road to Nurse and
Gladys. ‘‘Won’t you come in to the cottage out of the
rain?” she said. Gladys frowned, but Nurse said, “ Thank
you,” and told Gladys to wait ‘in the cottage, which was
very clean, whilst she fetched umbrellas. At first Gladys
stood at the cottage door, and stared at the children, but
gradually she went further in, and when one of the boys
gave her a shell she smiled. When Nurse came_ back
she found Gladys. with her cloak and hat off, playing
happily with the three children. ‘“ They were so kind,” said
Gladys, as she and Nurse went home. ‘She wasn’t stuck

up,” said one of the boys. “Not a bit,” said the other.