136 MARGARET.

no ramble in the woods too long if her beloved Dee were her
companion. She was perfectly at home in the cottage too, and
would walk in and out at her pleasure, would help herself to
a slice of bread or lie on the hearth by the side of Dee in the
most confident way.

Up, up they went till the valley was far below them and
the river a thread of silver. The little flock finally reached
the high pasture, and set to work nibbling the short grass,
hopping lightly over stones, or lying peacefully in little
groups, the lambs close to their mothers.

Margaret sat down on a big boulder, with the faithful Dee
at her feet and Nanny not far off. Nanny wore at her neck a
little bell, which tinkled, tinkled, as she cropped the grass.

It was very quiet: far off a bird was calling; a little
mountain stream sang along its stony bed, but those were the
only sounds, save the tinkling of Nanny’s little bell and the
nibble-nibble of the grass by the sheep.

Margaret was very happy, though she had a busy life. She
was her father’s housekeeper since her mother had died five
years before, and she now had the care of the sheep, for her —
father a month before had contracted a hard attack of rheu-
matism; in consequence the little girl was housekeeper and
shepherdess both; but she loved her little flock, and it was
restful work, wher she could sit, as she did now, with the blue
sky above her and the sights and sounds of nature about her.

“She was not lonely, for she could talk to Nanny and to