retired to her room and locked the door.

With some interest and hope, she immediately marked out a course of
reading and study, for these two precious hours; then, arranging her
table, her books, pen and paper, she commenced a schedule of her work
with much enthusiasm. Scarcely had she dipped her pen in ink, when she
heard the tramping of little feet along the hall, and then a pounding at
her door.

"Mamma! mamma! I cannot find my mittens, and Hannah is going to slide
without me."

"Go to Amy, my dear; mamma is busy."

"So Amy busy too; she say she can't leave baby."

The child began to cry, still standing close to the fastened door. Mrs.
James knew the easiest, and indeed the only way of settling the trouble,
was to go herself and hunt up the missing mittens. Then a parley must
be held with Frank, to induce him to wait for his sister, and the
child's tears must be dried, and little hearts must be all set right
before the children went out to play; and so favorable an opportunity
must not be suffered to slip, without impressing on young minds the
importance of having a "place for everything and everything in its
place;" this took time; and when Mrs. James returned to her study, her
watch told her that _half_ her portion had gone. Quietly resuming her
work, she was endeavoring to mend her broken train of thought, when
heavier steps were heard in the hall, and the fastened door was once
more besieged. Now, Mr. James must be admitted.