"I'm afraid we shall have to go all the way to Mr. Matthews'," said mamma. "Next time, I'll dress baby myself.'
"Miss Fanny sent me to put on my bonnet," urged nurse. "She said you were in a hurry."
"No one is to blame, nurse," said her kind master. "It is simply unfortunate."
Mile after mile they drove on, only meeting an occasional carriage, until they came in sight of Easton Parsonage. Here the lights were all out, except one in the chamber; and there persons could be seen moving about.
A vigorous knock soon brought Mr. Matthews to the door. "I heard wheels," he said, "and more than half suspected who it was. We made a sad mistake."
Martin came down, her face very red, bringing baby Emma, and Ann gladly gave up her charge.
Mrs. Matthews soon appeared with marks of tears.
"Wasn't it dreadful!" she exclaimed, with a fresh burst of grief. "I wanted to go right back. We were only two miles from the city when we found out we had brought away the wrong baby; but Mr. Matthews said no, we must keep her till morning. He thought it very careless of us, but"—
"There was no carelessness about it," urged Fanny, indignantly. "Mrs. Reed wanted to help; and she put on the wrong cloaks, that was all. There was never a thought with us of not coming back. Brother wouldn't have hesitated if it had been twice as far. We knew you'd want your baby, and we wanted ours."
"I thought you would understand that we should keep your little Miss till morning," explained Mr. Matthews.