A KNOCK AT THE DOOR.

‘THERE was a loud knock at the door, and a sound of voices
whispering and feet stamping, but when the old lady who
lived in the cottage answered the knock only one little
girl was to be seen in the garden. If the old lady’s eyes
had been sharper she might have caught sight of-a small
boy peeping from behind a big gooseberry bush to see what
happened. The old lady spoke two or three times to the
little girl, who at first seemed frightened, then she pulled
her inside the cottage and shut the door. The boy behind
the gooseberry bush began to feel uncomfortable. He had
only intended to tease his sister when he had knocked at
the door and run away, and he wondered what was happening
to her. He had made up his mind to knock at the cottage
door and get her away, when the door opened, and she came
running down the walk.. As soon as she was safely out of
the garden the boy ran after her. “I’m so sorry,” he said ;
“did the old lady scold you?” The little girl smiled. “She
gave me some cake, and she only-laughed when I told her
you had run away. It was Nurse’s old aunt, arid she re-

membered me, and I knew her, and she was so_ kind.”.