"Are you Esther's brother, really?"

"Yes, Miss Florence--I believe that is your name."

"Florence Emmeline Lucas," she repeated glibly. "I'm Flurry for
short; nobody calls me Florence except father sometimes. It was dear
mamma's name, and he always sighs when he says it."

"Indeed," returned Allan in an embarrassed tone; and then he took
Flossy on his knee and began to play with him.

"Esther is rich," went on Flurry, rather sadly. "She has three
brothers; there's Fred, and you, and Dot. I think she likes Dot best,
and so do I. What a pity I haven't a Dot of my own! No brothers; only
father and Aunt Ruth."

"Poor little dear," observed Allan compassionately--he was always
fond of children. His hearty tone made Flurry look up in his face.
"He is a nice man," she said to me afterward; "he likes Flossy and
me, and he was pleased when I kissed him."

I did not tell Flurry that Allan had been very much astonished at
her friendship.

"That is a droll little creature," he said, as we left the house
together; "but there is something very attractive about her. You have
a nice berth there, Esther. Miss Lucas seems a delightful person," an
opinion in which I heartily agreed. Then he asked me about Mr. Lucas;
but I had only Flurry's opinion to offer him on that subject, and he
questioned me in his old way about my daily duties. "Mother thinks