"And when you were very sound asleep indeed, he put out both your eyes. When you awoke you found yourself quite blind, and did not know what to do or where to go. Suddenly, in the midst of your misery, you heard the sound of a blacksmith's forge. Guided by the noise, you reached the place and begged the blacksmith to climb on your shoulders, and so lend you his eyes to guide you. The blacksmith was willing to do it, and seated himself on your shoulders. Then you said, 'Guide me to the place where I can see the first sunbeam that rises in the east over the sea,' and--" "Yes," said Orion, whose breath was coming quickly, "yes; and what happened to me then?" "Nonsense, little boy! Don't you listen to another word of that folly," said a very strong, determined voice. All the children turned abruptly. "Oh, _she_ has come bothering!" said Diana. But the other three had started to their feet, and a flush rose into Iris' pale face. CHAPTER V. AUNT IS HER NAME. "Aunt is her name," said Diana, "and I don't think much of her." Mrs. Dolman strode rapidly into the nursery. "Yes, children," she said, "I am your aunt--your Aunt Jane Dolman, your father's only sister. Circumstances prevented my coming to see your father and mother for several years; but now that God has seen fit to give you this terrible affliction, and has taken your dear mother to Himself, I have arrived, determined to act a mother's part to you. I do not take the least notice of what that rude little girl says. When I have had her for a short time under my own control, she will know better. Now, one of you children, please have the politeness to offer me a chair, and then you can come up one by one and kiss me." Iris was so much petrified that she could not stir. Diana and Orion came close together, and Diana flung her stout little arm round Orion's fat neck. Apollo, however, sprang forward and placed a chair for his aunt. "Will you sit here, please, Aunt Jane Dolman?" he said. "You need not say Aunt Jane Dolman," replied the lady; "that is a very stiff way of speaking. Say Aunt Jane. You can kiss me, little boy." Apollo raised his lips and bestowed a very chaste salute upon Aunt Jane's fat cheek. "What is your name?" said Aunt Jane, taking one of his small, hard hands in hers. "Apollo," he replied, flinging his head back. "Apollo! Heaven preserve us! Why, that is the name of one of the heathen deities--positively impious. What could my poor sister-in-law and your father have been thinking of? At one time I considered your father a man of sense." Apollo flushed a beautiful rosy red. "Please, Aunt Jane," he said, "I like my name very much indeed, and I would rather you did not say a word against it, because mother gave it to me."