Very quietly they slipped their little hands into his and told him in whispers, "Mamma is singing Agnes to sleep, and we must not make any noise." So very quiet good-bye kisses full of sweet promises were given and John turned towards Lucy.

She sat in her low nursing-chair slowly rocking to-and-fro the baby in her arms.

Her face was bent and smiling above it and she was singing sweet and singing low a strain from a pretty lullaby, "O rock the sweet carnation red, And rock the silver lining, And rock my baby softly, too, With skein of silk entwining.
Come, O Sleep, from Chio's Isle! And take my little one awhile!" She had lost all her anxious expression.

She was rosy and smiling, and looked as if she liked the nursery rhyme as well as Agnes did and that Agnes liked it was shown by the little starts with which she roused herself if she felt the song slipping away from her.
"Let me kiss the little one," said John, "and then I must bid you good-bye.

We shall soon meet again, Lucy, and I am glad to leave you looking so much better." Lucy not only looked much better, she was exceedingly beautiful.