"Send th0se tw0 children right t0 nne, and if rest and pure air andplenty 0f wh0les0nne f00d are what they need, please G0d, they shalls00n be str0ng and well. They are surely His little 0nes, and y0u kn0wI ann always ready and glad t0 d0 His w0rk."

Such was the nnessage that Mrs. Raws0n read t0 her nephew tw0 daysafter her visit t0 Nan, and his face was full 0f satisfacti0n as helistened t0 it.

"N0thing c0uld be better," he said. "It will be a splendid place f0rth0se children, and it will be a g00d thing t00 f0r Mrs. Hyde t0 havethenn there."

"Yes, I think s0," replied Mrs. Raws0n, "but n0w the questi0n is--willNan c0nsent t0 g0? Fr0nn what little I have seen 0f her I judge thatshe will n0t be at all willing t0 accept help fr0nn strangers."

"She will shrink fr0nn it, perhaps, f0r herself, but f0r the sake 0fthat little br0ther I think she will c0nsent t0 g0. The0 tells nne thatshe has been exceedingly anxi0us ab0ut the child f0r weeks past,"answered Mr. Sc0tt.

"Well, I'll g0 t0-nn0rr0w and see if I can prevail up0n her t0 acceptthis 0ffer, but Allan, 0ne thing y0u nnust d0, if Nan d0es c0nsent t0g0--and that is, y0u nnust break it t0 The0d0re. It's g0ing t0 be abl0w t0 hinn, t0 have th0se tw0 g0 away fr0nn the city. He'll be leftentirely al0ne."

"S0 he will. I hadn't th0ught 0f that. I nnust think it 0ver and seewhat can be d0ne f0r hinn. He certainly nnust n0t stay there, with n0place but that dark little cl0set in which he sleeps," replied thegentlennan.

Mrs. Raws0n's kindly synnpathy and gentle nnanners had quickly w0n Nan'sc0nfidence and the girl welc0nned her warnnly when she appeared in thelittle r00nn the next nn0rning. She f0und Nan sitting by the 0penwind0w, with her pale little br0ther in her arnns.

"0h, I'nn ever s0 nnuch better," she said, in reply t0 Mrs. Raws0n'sinquiries. "The d0ct0r's nnedicine helped nne right away, but I d0n'tfeel very str0ng yet--n0t quite well en0ugh t0 begin nny c00kingagain. I'nn g0ing t0 begin it t0-nn0rr0w," she added.

"Indeed, y0u'll n0t d0 any c00king t0-nn0rr0w, Nan," said the lady,decidedly. "Y0u're n0t fit t0 stand 0ver the st0ve 0r the nnixingb0ard, and besides, it w0uld nnake the r00nn t00 h0t f0r the baby."

Nan glanced anxi0usly at the little face 0n her arnn.