so, having an ardent affection for the winsome little creature, did not
dare to ask that she might.

But as she was about to go into her own room, on reaching home, her
father said, "Would you like to go with me to the nursery, Lulu, and see
your little sister?"

"Oh, so much, papa, if I may!" she cried eagerly. "But," half drawing
back, "perhaps she--will be afraid of me."

"I trust not," he said, with emotion. "I hope she does not know that you
had any thing to do with her fall. Come and see."

He took her hand, and led her to the nursery. The baby was awake,
sitting in its nurse's lap, and looking bright, but so much thinner and
paler than before her fall, that tears sprang to Lulu's eyes, and she
could scarce refrain from sobbing aloud.

But the little one, catching sight of her, held out its arms, with a
joyful cry, "Lu!"

At that, Lulu's tears fell fast.

"May I take her, papa?" she asked sobbingly, and with an entreating look
up into his face. "I won't hurt her, I wouldn't for all the world!"

"You may take her," he said, his tones a trifle tremulous: "I am quite
sure you would never hurt her intentionally."

Lulu gladly availed herself of the permission, took the baby in her