Just before they went to sleep, Sarah, the cook, went past their door, and Nelly called to her:-- "Sarah, mamma says we mustn't get up to-morrow morning till the house is very warm. Couldn't you get up very early and start the furnace fire?" "Why, yes, Miss Nelly, I can do that easy enough, sure; but where'll you be sleeping?" "Just where we always do, Sarah," replied Nelly, much surprised at this question. "Well, miss, I'll be up long before light and get the house as warm as toast by the time you can see to tell the toes from the heels of your stockings," said Sarah. "Good-night, Miss Nelly. Good-night, Master Rob." "What could she have meant asking where we'd be sleeping?" said Rob. "I'm sure I don't know," said Nelly; "it's very queer. We've never slept anywhere but in these two beds since we were babies. I don't know what's got into her head. It's the queerest thing I ever knew. I guess she was sleepy," and in a few moments both the children were fast asleep. Rob was the first to wake up. It was not much past midnight. "Nelly," he whispered. No answer. Twice he called: still no answer. There was not a sound to be heard except the loud ticking of the high clock at the head of the stairs. Presently there came a rustle and quick low steps, and his mother stood by his bed. "What do you want, my dear little boy?" she said. "Is your throat worse?" "No; isn't it time to get up?" said Rob. "Hasn't Sarah made the fire?" "Oh, mercy!" exclaimed Mrs. March. "Is that all? Why Rob! it isn't anywhere near morning. You must go to sleep again, child; it is a terribly cold night," and she tucked the bed-clothes tight around him, and ran back to her own room. "I don't care," said Rob. "I'll just stay awake. I don't believe it'll be very long;" but before he knew it he was fast asleep again. The next time he waked, it had begun to be light, or rather a little less dark. He could see the outline of the window at the foot of his bed, and he could see Nelly's bedstead, which was on the opposite side of the room. "Nelly," he called again. "I'm awake," said Nelly. "Why didn't you speak?" said Rob. "I was thinking," replied Nelly. "Sarah hasn't gone down yet." "Pshaw," said Rob, "she must have. She said she'd go long before light. She went before you were awake." "It's awful cold," whispered Nelly; "I can't keep even my hands out of bed. I'm going to jump up and see if any hot air comes in at the register." So saying, she jumped out of bed, ran to the register, and held her hands above it. "Cold as Greenland, Rob," she said, "Sarah can't have made the fire. I don't believe she is up."