"No--o, don't ask mother," she said in a choked, thick voice, "it is no use, father would make me stay, and it would only make him angry if we asked him, and I--I want to help you, too," she added, quite truthfully.

"I shan't mind so much by and by, p'raps.

Don't cry, Charlie.

Turn round and listen, and I'll tell you more stories.

Then, after breakfast, I'll tidy your room." The violence of Charlie's sobs had quite frightened away and stopped hers, and banished for a time her home-sickness.