no sunshine, and Maggie felt her excitement cooling down and her heart beating tranquilly again. All that delightful energy and

thinking how very disagreeable it was to be spoken of as "a muff." Was it really only the mi

also in the land of dreams. Maggie felt quite forlorn, and as if she were alone in the world. But at this moment a thrush perche

ightful creatures are up in the garden. I'll go into the g

ress through a small side window, which she easily opened; and, once in the garden, her loneliness and sadness vanished like magic. She laughed aloud, and ran gayly hither and th

the most likely thing happened-she fell asleep. She slept in the arbor, with her head resting on the rustic table, until the stable clock struck six; that sound awoke her. She rubbed her drowsy eyes and looked aroun

ren't you surprise

iss! Oh, dear! oh, dear! ain't you very cold, missie? And was you overtook with sleep, and did you s

They know nothing at all about it, Jim. They are all in their beds, every one of them, sound, fast asleep. Even my new

n myself, so I do. I 'ates getting up of a morning, Miss Maggie; and

a treat; I don't find it so. Well, Jim, I'm glad, anyhow, you're obliged to be up this morning,

ny Raven, and that's all work that a little lady could have no call to mix with. I think, missie, if I was

head very decidedly o

'm going to look at Snowball. I don't think very

able clock attracted the erratic little maid's attention; she suddenly remembered the dreadful feeling of shame which had swept over her when Ralph had asked her to tell him the hour. She had earnestly wished at that moment tha

know what o

course; it's a

know that. Did you find it out b

; there it is in front of us

grave, and her eyes assu

she said. "Stoop down; I want to say it v

n a grave manner. He was silent f

it, I suppose

Jim; and you

e up his hair and

s another th

d there are little figures marked on it; and there are two hands that move, 'cause I've

pend'lum,

y. "I'll remember that word; I won't forge

the little 'and points to the hour

ry puzzling,"

ays. I took a week of Sundays over it myself, and I'm not to say dull. The c

would be quite dreadful what Ralph would think of me then; he wouldn't ever, ever believe t

nk nothing at all about her. I'd

g about the old clock, just to make

hink the stable clock is fast; it is that same, miss, and that will sound very 'cute. Now I must go to my sweeping. Willia

stable-yard rath

got up at four o'clock in the morning, and if Ralph had ever called Jo a muff; but of course he had not. Jo was doubtless one of those unpleasant model little girls about whom nurse sometimes spoke to her on Sunday: little girls who always did at once what their old nurses told them, who never rumpled their pinafores, nor made their hair untidy, nor soiled their clean hands, but walked instead of running, and smiled instead of laughing. Nurse had spoken over and over of these dear little lady-like

a shrubbery; directly through the shrubbery was another path, which branched out in the direction of Maggie's neglected garden; suppose she went and did a little weeding in her garden; or no, suppose she did what would be much more enchanting, suppose she paid a visit to Ralph's rabbi

neglected garden and the half-finished rockery, and was kneeling down

; she bent close to the bars of the hutch and called them to her, and tried to stroke their noses through the little round holes. Bianco was very tame, but Lily was a little shy, and kept in the background, and did not allow her nose to be rubbed. Maggie showered endearing names on her; no pet she had ever possessed herself seemed equal to

ut they'll both come. While they are eating I can be cleaning the hutch. What a nice useful girl I am, after all! I expect Ralph will think I'm quite as good as that stupid old Jo of h

ts. They bounded in rabbit fashion toward the green lettuces, and when

st speak to father about it. There must be a new hutch made as quick as possible. Well, I had better clean this one while the dear bunnies are at their breakfast. I'll see if I can get some fresh

le place represented a strange world to them, but as there was not a soul in sight, they thought they might explore this new land a little. Bianco bounded on in front, and looked back at Lily; Lily scampered after her companion. In a short time they found themselves on the boundary of a green and shady and pleasant-looking woo