Trying to hurt you, because you hurt my dolly,' sobbed Dora.

There, don't cry any more, Dora. If you forgive me I'll forgive you, and we will cry quits -won't we?'

'Yes, if you please, Tom,' replied Dora, holding up her lips for the kiss of peace.

Tom kissed her and called her a silly little thing, though, to tell the truth, he felt very much ashamed of himself for having vexed her; and as he resumed his boat-making, he inwardly determined to try and not do so again. Dora returned to Johnny somewhat comforted; and taking her doll, began to think what she could invent to hide her dolly's disfigurement.

Dora Harley was the orphan child of Mr. Harley's youngest brother. She was quite an infant when her father died; and when she was only seven years old, her mother died also. Her Uncle James was her sole guardian; and she had been living with him ever since her mother's death, which took place a little more than a year before our story commences. No one could be kinder and more considerate than her aunt and uncle were to their orphan charge; and she shared with their own children in their affection; indeed, none would have known that she was not their own child, from their manner to her. She was a great favourite with all her cousins, not omitting Tom, who, though he never lost an opportunity of teasing her, nevertheless loved her with all his heart. Besides Tom and Johnny, who have already been introduced to our readers, there were Constance, Agnes, and Guy Harley. Constance was about a year younger than Tom, and Agnes and Guy came next to Johnny, Guy being but two years old. Constance and Tom went to schools in the neighbourhood; but Dora and Johnny received lessons from a lady who came daily to them for that purpose. Constance had accompanied her mamma somewhere on the afternoon of Dora's and Tom's fracas, and had consequently missed witnessing Miss Dolly's misadventure.

That night, when Dora knelt beside her little bed, she prayed God to forgive her for having shown such naughty temper towards her cousin Tom, and, in child's language, told her heavenly Father that Tom had forgiven her, and she hoped He would forgive her also, for Jesus Christ's sake; and when she lay down upon her bed, she called to Johnny, who slept in a tiny cot in a little inner room, that she was very happy, for she had told God everything, and she knew that He had heard her.

Long after Dora was fast asleep, the nurse and Tom stole softly into her room to look for her doll, which they had vainly searched for in

the day nursery. Tom's heart had smitten him ever since she had made peace with him; and he was anxious to see if, by any possibility, he could replace the eye which he had so mischievously pushed into the doll's head, by taking off the head, and, with a pair of pincers, refixing it. But no doll was to be found, until nurse gently moved back the bed-clothes, when, fast folded in Dora's arms, they discovered her dear damaged pet. Dora's eyelashes were still wet with tears; and Tom felt more ashamed of himself than before, when he remembered he had caused them.

'She is a precious darling, Master Tom,' observed the nurse, as she left the room; 6 and I do hope you won't tease her any more. If she is a big girl to love a doll so, you ought to recollect she hasn't got anything else, like you've got, to love; and her own dear mamma dressed and gave it to her, poor little thing!'

The next morning Tom was up as soon as Dora; and, by dint of great persuasion, the doll was at last entrusted to him. He found no difficulty in taking off the head; but the refastening the eye was quite a different matter; and it was not until he was nearly despairing of being able to achieve his point, that he succeeded in his efforts, and then it was chiefly attributable to his mamma bringing him some gum-lac to stick the eye in with. Dora was highly delighted when Tom returned her her doll, though the reset eye bore manifest tokens of the damage sustained; but Dora was content, and Tom tried to be content also, though, it must be confessed, it was a long time before he could; for he felt he had wantonly defaced one of his little cousin's greatest treasures.

Later in the day Dora was missing from the nursery for some time; and upon Johnny's going to look for her, he found her in her bedroom weeping over an open drawer.

Oh Dora!' cried the child, rushing up to her, and throwing his arms about her.

Hush, Johnny,' said Dora, in a faltering voice, and I will tell you what I am doing. You know, Johnny, I am putting away my dolly; for nurse and Constance say I am too big to play with dolls; and I suppose I am, for I am past eight years old. So I am going to put her in this drawer (auntie said this was to be my very own drawer), and when I want to look at her very badly, I can come and take just a little peep, and nobody know it but you, Johnny. See, she is very comfortable!'

Yes,' replied Johnny, standing on the tips of his toes, to be able to look into the drawer. 'But what will you do without her?' he asked.

'Oh Johnny, I am going to be a young lady like Constance, and learn games, and read storybooks, and do needlework in play hours; but oh, Johnny, I would rather be a little girl, and nurse my dolly;' and fresh tears trickled down her cheeks, and dropped upon her favourite in the drawer. After a few moments' silence, Dora wiped the tear-drops away, and kissing her doll, covered her over with a sheet of silver paper, which she had previously begged of her aunt; and shutting the drawer, said, with a forced

Of all her cousins, Dora loved Johnny the best; and though he was two years younger than herself, yet he was her especial friend and confidant. Tom teased and fretted her, and Constance, on the strength of her three years' seniority, patronized her, but Johnny sympathized and clung to her; therefore Dora loved him, and was never happier than when he was by her side. For some time after the affair of the doll's eye, Tom desisted from teasing his cousin; for he was not only ashamed of his conduct, but he had been surprised at the violence of temper she had manifested. She was usually so timid and gentle, that he had not had the least idea before that she could put herself in a tantrum, as he called it, and she was raised considerably in his estimation through it: he little knew, child though she was, how she had fallen in her own, and with what a subdued, humble spirit she thought upon the occurrences of that afternoon. Mr. Harley was a nervous invalid, and sometimes would not see the children for two or three weeks together; but when he did, it was a source of great pleasure to them, particularly to Dora, who, having been brought up by a sick mother, felt quite at home in his presence, and, by her pitying eyes and quiet movements, won upon his affections. She and Johnny were the most privileged of the family, and were often admitted to his room when the other children were excluded. Mrs. Harley was kindness itself; but she was so devoted to nursing and attending on her husband, that, excepting a regular morning visit to the nurseries, she frequently did not enter them again all day. Fortunately she had a most trustworthy nurse, and could leave the children to her care with the greatest confidence; for she had been her own nurse when a little girl, and had lived with her nearly ever since her marriage. 'Old nurse,' as she was called by the children, to distinguish her from the under nurse, was a really excellent woman, and passionately fond of them; indeed, in heart she believed they could not be matched anywhere; and her delight was to walk behind them to church, and compare their appearance with those of the other children who passed her; and as Mrs. Harley could seldom accompany her family there, old nurse generally enjoyed that pleasure. Mr. Harley usually slept in an afternoon, so Mrs. Harley always took that opportunity of gathering her little ones around her on Sabbaths; and the mother and children counted the happiest time in the week that which they spent together in the old oak dining-room.

Johnny had been having a fine game of play with Dora and Agnes one morning, when his mamma came into the room, bringing his Uncle Bennett with her, and said:

'Johnny, will you go back with Uncle Bennett to see Aunt Jenny?'

Johnny was very fond of his aunt and uncle; but then he was a little fellow, and equally fond of his home and Dora; so he pondered over his mamma's question a moment or two, and then archly asked:

'Why doesn't Aunt Jenny come to Johnny?' 'Because Aunt Jenny is not well, and she wants to see her little godson at her own house,' replied his uncle.

Oh,' said Johnny, in his quaint, wise little way, then, Dora, I suppose I had better go.' Yes,' answered Dora, drawing in a deep breath and turning very pale at the thought of parting with him; I suppose you had.'

6

'That's right, Johnny and Dora,' cried Uncle Bennett. Johnny shall have a nice horse to play with on the lawn at Aunt Jenny's, and he shall soon come back strong and well.'

'But he is strong and well,' gasped Dora, frightened at the supposition that anything was the matter with Johnny.

A meaning look passed between old nurse and Uncle Bennett, and Dora fancied there were tears in her aunt's eyes; but she could not understand why there should be, nevertheless they pained her. So it was decided that Johnny should return the following day to Leighton with his uncle, and that Mary, a steady girl who assisted the nurses, should go with him to attend to him.

The rest of the day Johnny and Dora kept close together, and held long conversations on the coming visit. Johnny informed her that his horse should be fed on nothing but daisies, and that he hoped Uncle Benny would buy him a beautiful white one, with a black mane and tail.

That night, when old nurse and Mrs. Harley went into the sleeping-rooms to take their nightly farewell of the children, they found Dora sitting up in her bed wide awake, pale and trembling.

Miss Dora!' cried nurse, when she spied the little white figure perched up in the bed.

My darling!' exclaimed Mrs. Harley, folding the trembling child in her arms; what is it?' Oh, why did they say Johnny was not strong?' sobbed Dora, throwing her arms round her aunt's neck as she spoke. And why did you cry, auntie?'

I cry, my precious?'

'Yes; the tears were in your eyes. I saw them there; indeed, I did,' she said, passionately.

Hush! hush! my darling, we shall wake Johnny. Do not you know that mothers canuot bear to part with their little ones, Dora ?'

Was that why you cried?' inquired the child, still clinging to her aunt.

It was Mrs. Harley's turn to tremble then, and she knew not what to reply. Her own heart was sad; but ought she to sadden Dora's? she thought. Yet she felt she dared not deceive her