Mrs.Goddard herself was thoughtful and sad, without precisely knowing why.

She generally looked forward with pleasure to meeting the Ambroses, but this evening she had been rather disappointed.

The conversation had dragged, and the excellent Mrs.
Ambrose had been more than usually prosy.

Nellie had complained of a headache and leaned wearily against her mother's knee.
"Tell me a story, mamma--won't you?
Like the ones you used to tell me when I was quite a little girl." "Dear child," said her mother, who was not thinking of story-telling, "I am afraid I have forgotten all the ones I ever knew.

Besides, darling, it is time for you to go to bed." "I don't want to go to bed, mamma.