CHAPTER XV.
JERRY AT THE PARK.
And so this is the poor little girl.

We'll take her right to the kitchen, where she can get warm,' Mrs.Tracy said, as she met her husband in the hall, with Harold and the mite of a creature wrapped in the foreign looking cloak and hood.
'No, Dolly!' and Frank spoke very decidedly, as Harold was turning in the direction of the kitchen.

'She is going to the nursery, with the other children, and when they have their dinner she shall have hers with them.' 'Ess, 'ess, 'ess,' Jerry said, as if she comprehended that there was a difference of opinion between the man and woman, and that she was on the affirmative side.
'Take her to the nursery! Oh, Frank! she may have something about her which the children will catch,' Mrs.Tracy said, blocking the way as she spoke.
But Jerry, who through the half-open door had caught sight of the pretty sitting-room, with its warm carpet and curtains, and cheerful fire, shook her head defiantly at the lady, and brushing past her, went boldly into the room, whose brightness had attracted her.
Marching up to the fire, she stood upon the rug and looked about her with evident satisfaction; then glancing at the three who were watching her, she nodded complacently, and said, ''ess, 'ess, 'ess,' while she held her little cold hands to the fire.
'Acts as if she belonged here, doesn't she ?' Frank said to his wife, who did not reply, so intent was she upon watching the strange child, who deliberately took off her cloak and hood and tossing them upon the floor, drew a small low chair to the fire, and climbing into it, sat down as composedly as if she were mistress there instead of an intruder.
Once she swept the hair back from her forehead with the motion Frank knew so well, and then the lump came into his throat again, and he steadied himself against the mantel, while he looked curiously at the young girl, making herself so much at home and seeming so well pleased with her surroundings.
'Take her to the nursery now.

I must see to that coroner,' he said to his wife, adding: 'Harold must go too, or there will be the Old Harry to pay.' ''Ess, 'ess,' came decidedly from the child, who went willingly with Harold, and was soon ushered into the large upper room, which was used as both nursery and school-room, for Mrs.Tracy could not allow her two sons, Tom and Jack, to come in contact with the boys at school; so she kept a governess, a middle-aged spinster, who, glad of a home, and the rather liberal compensation, sat all day in the nursery and bore patiently with Tom's freaks and Jack's dullness: to say nothing of the trouble it was to have the three-year-old Maude toddling about and interfering with everything.
'Hallo!' Tom cried, as his mother came in, followed by Harold and Jerry.
'Hallo, what's up ?' And throwing aside the slate on which he had been trying to master the difficulties of a sum in long division, he went toward them, and said: 'Has the coroner come, and can't I go and see the inquest?
You said maybe I could if I behaved, and I do, don't I, Miss Howard ?' Just then he caught sight of Jerry, and stopping short, exclaimed: 'By Jingo! ain't she pretty! I mean to kiss her.' And he made a movement toward the little face, which looked up so shyly at him.

But his mother caught his arm and held him back, as she said, sharply: 'Don't touch her, there is no tolling what you may catch.