I wonder if you'd ever get tired," she said pleasantly.

Nimpo looked up.

"I guess not. Is it late?"

"Why, it's twelve o'clock," said Mrs. Stuart, "you ought to have been abed hours ago."

"O I couldn't go to bed, I wanted to read this book, and I've got to go home in the morning.'

"I think not," said Mrs. Stuart. "I've made a plan to keep you awhile, and send for Carrie.”

But when Nimpo told her that her mother was away, and how she came, Mrs. Stuart saw that she must go, so she packed her off to bed.

When Cousin Will drove up in the morning, Nimpo came out neatly fixed up with a bonnet of Carrie's and her own dried shawl and dress. Mrs. Stuart came to the door with her, and told Will that it was her special request that Nimpo should come and stay a week when her mother came home, and Cousin Will said he would remember and give the invitation to Mrs. Rievor, and Nimpo kissed Mrs. Stuart, and thanked her for the precious book of travels which she had

given her to finish at home, and they drove

off.

"Well, Nimpo," said Cousin Will, “you didn't have such a dreadful time after all."

"Oh I had a splendid time!" said Nimpo, "only Carrie wasn't home."

The day turned out very pleasant, and they took dinner at Green's, where they had another such a funny meal as at the farmer's; for after all, Green's was only a farm-house with a sign stuck out.

Though the sun shone, the mud was dreadful,regular Ohio mud, yellow and clayey,—and the horses walked up and down the long hills, and so it was nearly dark when they drove into the village.

Nimpo found Rush and Robbie watching for her. Mrs. Primkins smiled grimly when she saw the new bonnet.

"Found I was right about the green ribbon, didn't you now?" she said.

"The color did come out some," answered Nimpo, shortly.

"Wall, what become of the bonnet anyway?" was the next question.

"I don't know, burnt up I guess; Susan took it," answered Nimpo.

"Wall, wall! you're a careless huzzy. I haven't a doubt that a little stiffnin' 'd make that bonnet 's

good 's new, but that's the way with young ones. So's they have a good time, no matter how much trouble and expense they make."

This greeting after the pleasant evening at Mrs. Stuart's, and her lovely day's ride, grated on Nimpo's nerves severely, and she found it hard work not to talk back. But Robbie's welcome, and evident delight at having her back, made up for every thing else.

When she was undressing him, Nimpo gave him a good hugging.

"Who undressed you when I was gone?" she asked.

"Rush," said Robbie; "but he can't unscrangle shoe strings he breaks 'em."

"Well," said Nimpo, "he sha'n't undress you any more, you're my boy again now."

"I ain't your boy," said Robbie earnestly. "I'm mamma's boy, I growed just for her."

"Well, you'll be mine till she comes home, won't you?" asked Nimpo.

"Yes," said Robbie, "I'll jest p'etend be your boy."

CHAPTER XXVII.

THE WINDMILL STORE.

"NIMPO," exclaimed Rush one day, coming in from school, "it's windmill time! Johnny Stevens had one this morning,-let's have our store again."

"Well," said Nimpo, "if Anna Morris'll be in partnership with us, I will."

“Oh she will, I know!" said Rush eagerly. "I'll go over now and ask her.”

"No, I'll see her at school this afternoon, and that'll be time. We can't do any thing till after school anyway."

Rush was so excited he could hardly eat his dinner, and as soon as that meal was over he rushed off to begin his arrangements.

Now in that little village, there came regularly, not only kite time, and top time, and marble time,