carrying the kettle, 'but we are in such confusion; and the nurse-
maid, whose place it is, has been up most of the night with Mr.
Leonard, and must have just dropped asleep somewhere, and I was just
giving their breakfast to the undertaker's young men, but I'll call
her directly, ma'am.'

'Oh, no, on no account. I am sure she ought to sleep,' said Mary.
'It was only because I found the little girls quite starving that I
came down. I will take care of them now. Don't wake her, pray.
Only I hope,' and Mary looked beseechingly, 'that they will have
something good for their dinner, poor little things.'

Cook was entirely pacified, and talked about roast chicken, and
presently the little sisters were sitting up in their beds, each in
her wrapper, being fed by turns with delicately-buttered slices, Mary
standing between like a mother-bird feeding her young, and pleased to
find the eyes grow brighter and less hollow, the cheeks less wan, the
voices less thin and pipy, and a little laugh breaking out when she
mistook Minna for Ella.

While tidying the room, she was assailed with entreaties to call
their Mary, and let them get up, they were so tired of bed. She
undertook to be still their Mary, and made them direct her to the
house-maid's stores, went down on her knees at the embers, and so
dealt with matches, chips, and coal, that to her own surprise and
pride a fire was evoked.

'But,' said Ella, 'I thought you were a Miss May.'

'So I am, my dear.'