After supper, Mr.Ellis went up into the nursery with Henry and Kate, and was chatting pleasantly with them, when their mother, who had remained behind to give some directions to a servant, came into the room.
"Come!" said she, in rather a sharp voice, as she entered, "it is time you were in bed." "Papa is telling us a story," returned Kate, in a pleading tone: "just let us wait until he is done." "I've got no time to wait for stories.

Come!" said the mother, imperatively.
"Papa will soon be done," spoke up Henry.
"It's early yet, mother," said Ellis; "let them sit up a little while.
I'm away all day, and don't see much of them." "I want them to go to bed now," was the emphatic answer.

"It's their bed-time, and I wish them out of the way, so that I can go to work.

If you'd had their noise and confusion about you all day, as I have, you'd be glad to see them in their beds." "You'll have to go," said Mr.Ellis, in a tone of disappointment that he could not conceal.

"But get up early to-morrow morning, and I will tell you the rest of the story.