for nurses and children, and Mrs. Curtis had put under the coachman's
charge a parcel of sandwiches, and instructed him to offer all the
appliances for making her own into an invalid carriage.

Full of warm tenderness to those who were to be dependent on her
exertions, led by her good sense, Rachel paced the platform till the
engine rushed up, and she looked along the line of windows, suddenly
bewildered. Doors opened, but gentlemen alone met her disappointed
eye, until close to her a soft voice said, "Rachel!" and she saw a
figure in deep black close to her; but her hand had been hardly
clasped before the face was turned eagerly to a tall, bearded man,
who was lifting out little boy after little boy, apparently in an
endless stream, till at last a sleeping baby was brought out in the
arms of a nurse.

"Good-bye. Thank you, oh, thank you. You will come soon. Oh, do
come on now."

"Do come on now," was echoed by many voices.

"I leave you in good hands. Good-bye."

"Good-bye. Conrade dear, see what Cyril is doing; never mind,
Wilfred, the Major will come and see us; run on with Coombe." This
last was a respectable military-looking servant, who picked up a
small child in one hand and a dressing-case in the other, and awaited
orders.

There was a clinging to the Major by all the children, only ended by
his finally precipitating himself into the carriage, and being borne