Sukie 



conscious of her error, had the Httle raw 

 Martha brought her pan of water and her 

 dish-clouts, and was busy rattHng cups and 

 saucers about. 



'' Do you know how late it is. Father? " 

 I said as I entered the kitchen. He 

 turned and looked at me ; then he heaved 

 a p^reat siofh, and shook his head. 



''Come here, boy," he said in a hoarse 

 whisper, '' Look at that, now ! " he added 

 sadly but indulgently, pointing with the 

 hand from which the neckcloth trailed to 

 the floor, at the shoulder-blades of the 

 charity girl. *' She don't understand, poor 

 dear, poor dear, she don't understand." 

 It had not occurred to him to enlighten 

 her, and to claim his own ; his nooks and 

 corners in the household arrangements had 

 from all time been ready for him, and he 

 had always slipped into them without 

 issuing orders or asking leave. 



I quickly came to the rescue and told 

 the girl of the mistake, and with a sigh of 

 relief my Father set about folding his neck- 

 cloth in its customary place ; but even then 

 I heard him murmuring to himself in a soft 

 surprised way as he went up the passage, 

 " She doesn't know that! poor dear, poor 

 dear ! " 



*' O Sukie," I said, a few days later. 



