Warn't it like him, Pink, say ?" But Pink drew the stately head down towards her, and kissed the glowing cheek, and whispered, "Queen Hildegarde! _my_ queen!" The tears started to Hilda's eyes as she returned the kiss; but she brushed them away, and rose hastily, announcing her intention of "setting things to rights" against Mrs.Chirk's return.

"You poor dears!" she cried, "how did you manage yesterday?
If I had only known, I would have come and got dinner for you." "Oh! we got on very well indeed," replied Pink, laughing, "though there were one or two mishaps.

Fortunately there was plenty of bread in the cupboard, where we could easily reach it; and with that and the molasses jug, we were in no danger of starvation.

But Mother had left a custard-pie on the upper shelf, and poor Bubble wanted a piece of it for dinner.

But neither of us cripples could get at it; and for a long time we could think of no plan which would make it possible.