FLOSS’S BABY.

the children’s mother could not, she knew,
very well afford to keep an under-nurse to
help her, it was rather trying to look forward
to beginning again with all the “worrit” of
a new baby, — bad nights and many tiring
climbs up the long stairs to the nursery, etc. ;
though nurse was so really good that she did
not grumble the least bit, and just quietly
made up her mind to make the best of it.
But still Floss was the only person to give
the baby a really hearty welcome. And by
some strange sort of baby instinct he seemed
to know it almost from the first. He screamed
at Jack, and no wonder ; for Jack, by way of sal-
utation, pinched his poor little nose, and said
that the next time they had boiled mutton for
dinner, cook need not provide anything but
turnips, as there was a fine crop of carrots all
ready, which piece of wit was greatly applauded
by Maurice and the girls. He wailed when
Cecil and Louise begged to be allowed to hold
him in their arms, so that they both tumbled

him back on to nurse’s.lap in a hurry, and