"Yes, sir," said Bessie,—"yesterday, in the afternoon. How did you know it?"
"Oh, I saw the carriages drive up, and papa and mamma and a whole regiment of little folks pouring out of them. I came out this morning, expecting to find you in the park, but you were nowhere to be seen."
"No," said Bessie, "mamma was so busy nurse and Jane had to help her, so we could not take our walk."
"Ah, to be sure, I might have thought of that, and called for you myself."
"But we helped mamma too, and she said we were of great use to her, so we could not have gone out," said Maggie.
"That was right," said Mr. Hall. "Always be of use to dear mamma when you can."
"We can't do much," said Bessie; "we are too little."
"I do not know about that," answered Mr. Hall. "These little hands and feet can help mamma a good deal, if they are only willing. If you can do nothing else, you can be quiet and patient when she is busy. If you do not make trouble, you save trouble."
"And we can 'muse baby," said Bessie.