TEDDY, waving the old palm-leaf fan up and down with as much care as if it had carried the breath of life to his poor little charge, sat for some time very quiet, listening to her wild prattle without trying to interrupt it; until, after lying still for a few moments, she suddenly fixed her eyes upon him, and said,-- "Oh! you're Peter Phinn, sister to Merry that weared a sun-bonnet, ain't you?" The question seemed so conscious and rational, that Teddy answered eagerly,-- "No, honey; but I'm Teddy Ginniss; and I'm going to be your brother forever and always. What's your name, sissy?" "I'm Finny; no, I'm Cherrytoe,--I'm Cherrytoe, that dances. Want to see me dance, Peter?" As she spoke, she started up, and would have jumped out of bed; but Teddy laid his hand upon her arm, and said soothingly,-- "No, no, sissy; not now. Another day you shall dance for Teddy, when you're all well. And you mustn't call me Peter, 'cause I'm Teddy." "Teddy, Teddy," repeated 'Toinette vaguely, and then, with a sudden shrill laugh, shouted,--"'Taffy was a Welshman, Taffy was a thief; Taffy came to my house and stole a piece of beef.' Guess you're Taffy, ain't you?" "No: I'm Teddy. I'm your brother Teddy," repeated the boy patiently; and then, to change the subject, added coaxingly, "And what's the pretty name you called yourself, darlint?" "I'm Cherrytoe,--Cherrytoe that dances so pretty. Don't you hear, you great naughty lady?--Cherrytoe, Cherrytoe, Cherrytoe!" The wild scream in which the name was repeated woke even tired Mrs. Ginniss, who started upright, crying,-- "What's it, what's it, Teddy? Ochone! what ails the crather?" "It's only her name she's telling, mother; and sure it's a pretty one. It's Cherrytoe." "And what sort of a quare name is that for a christened child? Sure we'll call it Cherry; for wunst I heerd of a lady as was called that way," said Mrs. Ginniss. "Yes, we'll call her Cherry, little sister Cherry," said Teddy, delighted with the promise implied in his mother's words of keeping the child for her own. "And, mother," added he, "mind you don't be telling the doctor nor any one that she ain't your own, or maybe they'll take her away to the 'sylum or somewheres, whether we'd like it or not: and, if they do, I'll run off to sea; I will, by ginger!" "Whisht, thin, with your naughty words, Teddy Ginniss! Didn't I bate ye enough whin ye wor little to shtop ye from swearin'?" "Ginger ain't swearing," replied Teddy positively. "I asked the master if it wor, and he said it worn't." "Faith, thin, and he says it hisself, I'm thinkin'," half asked the mother, with a shrewd twinkle of her gray eyes. Teddy faltered and blushed, but answered manfully,-- "No, he don't; and he said it was low and vulgar to talk that way; and I don't, only by times."