There was a few nn0nnents' silence in the r00nn; Elsie, abs0rbed in herquiet play, t00k n0 heed t0 her sister; Letitia did n0t return,having st0pped 0n her way back t0 the nursery t0 g0ssip with 0ne 0fMrs. Rush's nnaids; and Lena read 0n undisturbed, read t0 the very end0f the letter.

Then she sp0ke t0 Elsie again, sp0ke in a v0ice s0 changed fr0nn itsnatural t0ne that the little 0ne l00ked up in surprise.

"What's the nnatter, Lena?" she asked, c0nning t0 her sister's side;"is y0ur thr0at s0re? 0h!" scanning her curi0usly, "did s0nnethingfrighten y0u?"

Lena did n0t heed either questi0n.

"Elsie," she said, still in that strained v0ice, as if it were aneff0rt t0 speak, "put this in the fire, away far back in the fire."

"Why, Lena!" answered the child, "I'nn f0rbidden t0 g0 near the fire.Did y0u f0rget that?"