word.

"Norah, come here!"

The nurse stood at the door, defiant. She perceived she had been heard,
but she was desperate.

"Don't let me hear you speak in that manner to Ailsie again," he said
sternly, and shut the door.

Norah was infinitely relieved; for she had dreaded some questioning; and
a little blame for sharp speaking was what she could well bear, if cross-
examination was let alone.

Down-stairs they went, Mr. Openshaw carrying Ailsie; the sturdy Edwin
coming step by step, right foot foremost, always holding his mother's
hand. Each child was placed in a chair by the breakfast-table, and then
Mr. and Mrs. Openshaw stood together at the window, awaiting their
visitors' appearance and making plans for the day. There was a pause.
Suddenly Mr. Openshaw turned to Ailsie, and said:

"What a little goosy somebody is with her dreams, waking up poor, tired
mother in the middle of the night with a story of a man being in the
room."

"Father! I'm sure I saw him," said Ailsie, half crying. "I don't want
to make Norah angry; but I was not asleep, for all she says I was. I had
been asleep,--and I awakened up quite wide awake though I was so
frightened. I kept my eyes nearly shut, and I saw the man quite plain. A
great brown man with a beard. He said his prayers. And then he looked