A JOURNEY AND ITS ENDING. 153.

“ Because, dears, you may be going away

from home,” replied Mrs. Desart.

Floss and Carrots stared with astonishment.
“Going away from home,” Floss repeated, ut-
terly unable to say more. Carrots could say
nothing at all; he could oz/y stare.

“Yes,” continued Mrs. Desart; “I had
meant to tell you all about it before, but
I have kept putting it off’ —she stopped,
and seemed to hesitate.

«Why, mamma?” said Floss again. “Don’t
you like us to go?) Are you coming with us,.
mamma?”

« Are we going to auntie’s?” said Carrots.

_ His asking this seemed to please his mother.

« You would like to go to auntie’s, wouldn’t
you, Carrots?” she said.

Carrots stroked his mother’s shawl up and
down two or three times before he answered.

“T’d like to go if you would come too,” he
said at last; “but I think I would rather stay
at home, thank you, if you can’t come.”

Mrs. Desart’s eyes filled with tears. “ Poor