please?" asked Cecile, her face very pale.

"Oh! 'tis easy to know where, child--to the Union, of course."

Cecile had never heard of the Union.

"Is it far away? and is it a nice place?" she asked innocently.

Lydia laughed and held up her hands.

"Of all the babies, Cecile D'Albert, you beat them hallow," she
said. "No, no, I'll tell you nothing about the Union. You wait till
you see it. You're so queer, maybe you'll like it. There's no saying
--and Maurice'll get his share of the fire. Oh, yes, he'll get his
share."

"And Toby! Will Toby come too?" asked Cecile.

"Toby! bless you, no. There's a yard of rope for Toby. He'll be
managed cheaper than any of you. Now go, child, go!"




CHAPTER IX.

"THE ADVENT OF THE GUIDE."


Cecile crept upstairs again very, very slowly, and sat down by