Nimpo's heart sank.

"I got a little wet, up at Mrs. Cole's," said she. "Got a little wet! I should think so! Did you fall in the creek up there?"

"Yes," faltered Nimpo, "but I'm all dry now." "All dry! Humph! You've probably got your death o' cold. But I'll do my duty anyway, as I promised your ma. Little did I know what a chore it would be either," she muttered to herself, adding at once, "you go right straight to bed, and be spry about it too, and I'll come up there with a cup of tea for you."

Nimpo groaned, but did not dare to rebel, and besides, she was a little frightened about the "death o' cold." She didn't wish to die just yet. She climbed to her room, undressed, put on dry clothes, and laid down on the bed.

in one

In a few minutes Mrs. Primkins came up, hand a blanket, in the other a bowl. Putting the bowl on the stand, she first wrapped Nimpo in the blanket, which she had heated by the kitchen fire, and then she held the bowl to her lips and told her to drink every drop.

This tea was, indeed, "a horrid black stuff,” very much worse than ginger tea. Nimpo choked and gasped and gagged, but swallowed it.

Mrs. Primkins smiled grimly, and gave her a lump of sugar to take the taste out of her mouth.

"Now, don't you stir hand or foot out of that blanket, however warm you get. If you don't get a good sweat you'll have a chill, sure's you live. When it's time for you to come out I'll run up or send Augusty;" and down-stairs she went.

This ended Nimpo's first whole day of liberty. She had a good chance to think it over as she lay there wide awake. She had spoiled her visit to Nanny, ruined her own nice dress and boots, and, perhaps, caught a dreadful cold and fever.

On the whole she had been unhappy ever since her mother left home, though she couldn't exactly see why.

"I wouldn't mind the wetting," she thought, as she lay there alone. "I could stand this horrid blanket, though I believe I shall smother-and that bad stuff!" shuddering as she thought of it; "but I know my dress is spoiled, and what shall I

do without a nice dress till mother gets back? And Helen Benson's birthday party next week? Oh, dear! why didn't I wear a clean calico and white apron as mother always made me?” And Nimpo's first day of freedom actually ended in a fit of tears.

But finally she cried herself to sleep, and when Mrs. Primkins came at bed-time, she found her just waking up and all cold gone.

CHAPTER V.

THE FIRST SUNDAY.

THE next day was Sunday, and Nimpo was up early, feeling the responsibility of getting the boys and herself ready for church and Sundayschool.

With all her desire for liberty, she never had so wild a dream as staying at home from church.

In fact, in that village, one who deliberately stayed at home when he was able to stand, was looked upon as a desperate sinner.

Nimpo did not feel prepared to face the public opinion of the whole town, especially as she was sure Mr. Binney, the minister,—would notice her absence and speak about it.

So, though she had to wear a clean gingham dress and her school shoes, she dressed Robbie,

helped Rush put on his collar and tie his black neck-ribbon, and got ready herself.

As a last touch, after her hat was tied on, she took up her clean handkerchief by the middle fold, and shook it out so that the four corners hung together, and held it thus very carefully in her left hand.

Then she went to a corner of the garden and picked several bunches of green caraway or fennel, to keep her awake in church. These she held with her handkerchief, and taking Robbie's hand, she called to Rush to bring her Sunday-school book from the table, and away they went to the Sunday-school and church.

Sunday-school was at nine o'clock and church at half-past ten. So they did not get home till nearly one o'clock.

Then they ate a lunch of pie and doughnuts, with, perhaps, a glass of milk. And at half-past two they went to church again.

After that, the rest of the day was spent in reading Sunday-school books, getting next week's lesson, eating supper, and perhaps taking a nap.