Niece Catherine

LONDON THE RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY 56 PATERNOSTER ROW AND 65 ST PAUL'S CHURCHYARD
Butler & Tanner, The Selwood Printing Works Frome, and London.


'Catherine!— Catherine! '
Mrs. Arderne stood at the foot of the staircase, looking upward, and calling her companion. Though her voice sounded impatient there was an amused smile on her face, because she could hear merry laughter from the night-nursery, where 'Catherine' was helping nurse to put Ted and Toddie into bed.
The last call produced the effect desired. A tall slim young woman came running downstairs, explaining and apologising.
'Oh, I am really very sorry! Have you been trying to make me hear? I didn't know that you were calling, not until a minute ago; and then Ted was on my lap, and made himself so heavy when I tried to lift him back into his cot!'
'You spoil my children.'
The mother was still smiling. Catherine laughed aloud, and very musically, the laugh of a girl to whom people had always been kind.
'If you seriously meant that accusation, Mrs. Arderne, I should have to try to prove my innocence; but as I am sure you didn't, I will only tell you what a darling Ted has been to-night. He said his hymn right through, and afterwards composed a dear little prayer for mother's wicked headache to be taken right away. Now could I refuse to tell him about Jack and the Beanstalk after that?'
Catherine was trying to smooth back her brown hair with her hands as she spoke, for several curly locks were fluttering round her equally brown eyes, Toddie having 'rumpled dear Carr's head all up,' as the little girl herself would have expressed it.