216

  

“ CARROTS.”

to her and asking for some particulars of the
baby’s sad words; but now I felt I could not,
she was so stiff and unsympathizing. I could
not bear her to see me a stranger, crying
about what I had heard. Besides, what good
would it do? Why should I bear any more?
I shrank from doing so. The bare fact was

enough. I just bent down and kissed the
solitary darling.

    
   
      
      
      
    
 

“ Good-by ; my trot,” I said. I could not say
another word.

“Dood-by ; don’t ky,” said Dot, stroking my
cheek. “Doll won’t tum back, but Dot will
do to ’Ebben too some day.”

     
 
    
     
  

That was quite too much for me. _ I turned
away, and hurried back home as fast as I could.

“Mamma!” I exclaimed, rushing into our
sitting-room, and throwing myself down on
the sofa, “it’s just what I thought. I wish
you would come away from St. Austin’s at
once. I shall never, never like it again!”

“What zs the matter, Florence?” said poor
mamma, quite startled.