These thoughts kept swiftly passing through her brain, as she noiselessly laid the table and made it look charming and pretty. When all was done, she took up a little frock of one of the children's, and, sitting down by the window, began to work. Her pretty dark head was bent over her task; her thick curling lashes lay heavy on her rounded cheek. Mrs. Staunton, who had been having a doze on the sofa, started up now and looked at her.
"Oh, Effie dear, I have had such a nice sleep," she said, with a little sigh; "I am ever so much the better for it. But what have you done with baby?"
"I have put him to sleep, mother; he is in his cot now, as comfortable as possible."
"How good of you, Effie! What a comfort you are to me!"
Effie smiled. "I think I hear father coming in," she said, "and supper is quite ready."
Mrs. Staunton started up from the sofa; she pushed back her tumbled hair, and shook out her somewhat untidy dress.
"Now let me make you trim," said Effie.
She ran over to her parent, put back her gray hair with an affectionate little touch, and then kissed her mother on her flushed cheeks.
"You look better for your nice sleep, mother," she said.
"So I am, darling, and for your loving care," replied Mrs. Staunton.