presently he crawled away on hands and knees to Anne, who had taken up her work.

"Won't he let me get on with my mending?" asked Anne, leaning over him with a coaxing manner. "Must he be nursed? Very well. Shall I give him a ride on a gee-gee?" and, lifting him upon one arm of the sofa, she began jogging him up and down. Hughie was enchanted. He chuckled

and held out his arms to Dessie.

"Auntie Dessie come!

Auntie gallop."

"One moment, pet; I'll come," said Dessie, hurrying to the window at the sound of a drum. "Auntie is rather too big, I am afraid, for sofa gee-gees. O Anne, here comes a regiment of soldiers, and an officer on horseback with a plumed hat! Quick, or he will be gone!"

Anne started and turned towards the window, for one moment heedlessly loosening her grasp on the child. In that instant he overbalanced himself, and before she could seize again upon his dress he fell backwards, with a short cry of terror, the little head striking heavily upon the hard floor.

CHAPTER VII.

BABY HUGH.

AFTER one sharp cry there was silence. Dessie never, in later life, forgot the sickening terror which she felt, and saw reflected in Anne's face, as they lifted the child from the ground. She would have rushed away to summon Ella, but Anne's agonised entreaties withheld her; and while she hesitated the blue eyes opened, and the stunned stillness was exchanged for a low fretful wailing. "He is better now," she said, breathing freely again. "He will be all right directly. I really was frightened about the poor little fellow. think how you managed to let him fall."

I can't

"I don't know, Miss Dessie," said Anne, pale and shaking still. "I really don't know. I wasn't thinking; and you called out so sudden."

"It was very stupid of us both, and that is the truth," said Dessie. "I shall take care another time to see what you are after before I ask you to look out of a window. The best thing for the bump would be that stuff that Mrs. Fitzroy always has for his bruises; it keeps down the swelling so nicely.

Let me see!-oh, yes, I saw her lay it in

She said she liked to

this drawer the other day. have it at hand. I thought so-here is the bottle. Now, Baby, pet, I am going to put some on, and that will take away the soreness. It was just on the top of the head that he fell, Anne; and you see it hurts when I touch him. Don't start away, Hughie. There, that will do for the present. He will be all right now-he is hardly crying at all, you see; and, really, I don't think he looks more pale than he did before with his cold. He won't feel anything by to-morrow, I expect. Don't look so miserable, Anne; it is a mere nothing, after all."

"No, Miss-yes, Miss-but-" and Anne wore an expression so utterly woe-begone that Dessie asked

"Why, what is the matter? begin to cry, now the worst is over."

You need not

She

“You don't know, Miss Dessie," faltered Anne, with heaving chest. "Oh, you don't know! Missis will be sure not to keep me when she hears. warned me yesterday that I wasn't careful enough, and she didn't think I would do. And if Miss Fitzroy hears of it she will never help me to a place again; she will say it is my own fault, and that I deserve it. And it will just break mother's heart."

"Is your mother ill?" asked Dessie, her sympathies enlisted immediately on Anne's side.

"Yes, Miss Dessie; she has been ill for months and father is in hospital; and I've been so long out of place; and they did count so on my staying here; and I promised mother so faithful that I'd take care and not lose it for no fault of my own;

I don't know what

and I've been trying so hard. they'll say," sobbed Anne. "To lose it for such a little thing just an accident and no char

"But, Anne, you have only been here ten days; you would go to your last mistress, not to Mrs. Fitzroy, for a character."

"She's gone abroad, miss; and I couldn't get at her. Mother did count so on my staying here," repeated Anne, with a look of extreme distress. "I think it'll just kill her."

"I don't believe you will be sent away, Anne, for such a little thing," said Dessie.

"O yes, indeed, Miss Dessie; I'm quite sure to be. If it was anything else it would be different. But Master Hughie—anything to do with him-oh, missis will never hear of keeping me, nor master either -I'm quite quite sure. And poor mother

دو

"I should be sorry for you to lose your place through me," said Dessie quickly, allowing herself no time for reflection. "It really is my fault almost as much as yours, for I ought not to have startled you. But, at all events, you shan't get into trouble through my speaking. I advise you to tell Mrs. Fitzroy yourself, for it is best to be open; but I won't say a word, unless you give me leave; only you must mind and be very careful after to-day."

"O Miss Dessie, thank you!" exclaimed Anne, in fervent gratitude. "I can't say enough, but I do thank you; and I don't deserve it, but I will take care always, I will indeed, Miss Dessie. You promise you won't tell?"

"O yes! I give you my word for it. I promise, Anne, so don't fret any more. I think you are making rather a fuss about nothing, I must say; but now I suppose you will be happy. Will Baby come to auntie?" and she tried to lift him from Anne's knee, but instead of responding as usual, he turned from her complainingly, and clung to Anne.

"He has been a good deal like this the last two days, Miss Dessie," said Anne. "His teeth seem to make him fractious."

"Poor little man!" Dessie said, kissing him. "I hope he will soon be all right. I don't like to see him so dull. Mrs. Fitzroy is a very long time with her visitor, Anne. I am afraid I must not wait for her, or I shall be late home. Tell her I

was sorry to have to go. of Baby till she comes? to sleep."

You will take great care

He seems inclined to go

"I'll just sit here quite quiet, Miss Dessie; and sleep's the best thing for him. He didn't have a good night."

Dessie felt that there was no more fear of further heedlessness on the part of Anne than on her own part, and she left the house, not sorry to avoid meeting Ella immediately after what had occurred. On her way home, having time to think matters over, she was by no means satisfied with herself. Anne had certainly shown the most blameworthy heedlessness; and although on this occasion she might possibly have done the child no serious harm, there could be no security for her greater heedful