angel; but it is quite a severe bite.'

'Mamma,' said Elizabeth, rising, 'I think she had better come up-
stairs with me. Do not you come, Mamma; I will send for you, if--if
it is more than a scratch.'

She took Winifred in her arms and carried her off, followed by Mrs.
Dale, Miss Maynard, Harriet, Katherine, and Dora, the last-mentioned
looking quite pale with fright.

'If you please,' said Elizabeth, turning round at the foot of the
stairs, 'I can manage her better alone.'

She gained her point, though at the expense of politeness. Mrs. Dale
and Miss Maynard retreated, and Harriet and Katherine followed in
their train. Dora looked inquiringly at her eldest sister.

'Yes, Dora, you may come,' said she, running up-stairs to her own
room, where she shut the door, and set Winifred on her feet again.
'Well, Winifred, let us see,' said she cheerfully, 'are you much
hurt?'

'It bleeds,' said Winifred, withholding her hand.

'Not very much,' said Elizabeth, removing the handkerchief, and
washing off the blood, which had been more the cause of the scream
than the pain. She soon satisfied herself and her sisters that the
bite was scarcely more than a scratch; and a piece of sticking-
plaster, fetched by Dora, whose ready eye and clear thoughtful head
had already made her the best finder in the family, had covered the