“CARROTS.”

However,. she opened the letter at once.

No, there was no enclosure; and Floss, who

"was watching her face, saw that it grew trou-

bled as she ran her eyes down the page.
“My letter is from your father. I cannot
read it properly till after breakfast, for uncle
is waiting for me to pour out his coffee. Run
off now, dears, and I’ll come to the nursery
and tell you all about it after breakfast,” she

said, trying to look and speak just the same

as usual.

But Floss saw that she was. ¢ryzng, she did
not persist, however, but took Carrots by the
hand, and went off obediently without speak-
ing, only giving auntie one wistful look as she
turned away.

«What's wrong, Florence?” said Sybil’s ©
father, as the door closed after the children.

“It is about Lucy,” said auntie. ‘She is
much worse ; very ill indeed. She has caught
cold somehow, and Frank seems almost to have
lost hope already.”

Two or three tears rolled down auntie’s face