"It is, Tot--very remarkable. And we've had a sad fate, both of us, in havin' bin wrenched from our babbies. But the wrench couldn't have bin so bad in your case as in mine, of course, for your babby was nobody to you, whereas mine was a full cousin, an' such a dear one too. Oh, Tot, you've no notion what splendid games we used to have, an' such c'lections of things I used to make for 'er! Of course she was too young to understand it, you know, for she could neither walk nor speak, and I don't think could understand, though she crowed sometimes as if she did. My! how she crowed!--But what's the matter, Tot?" Tottie was pouting. "I don't like your bybie at all--not one bit," she said emphatically. "Not like my babby!" exclaimed Pax. "No, I don't, 'cause it isn't 'alf so good as mine." "Well," returned Pax, with a smile, "I was took from mine. I didn't forsake it like you." "I _didn't_ forsake it," cried Tottie, with flashing eyes, and shaking her thick curls indignantly--which latter, by the way, since her coming under the stern influence of Miss Stivergill, had been disentangled, and hung about her like a golden glory.--"I left it to go to service, and mother takes care of it till I return home. I won't speak to you any more. I hate _your_ bybie, and I _adore_ mine!" So saying, little Bones jumped up and ran away. Small Pax made no attempt to stop her or to follow. He was too much taken aback by the sudden burst of passion to be able for more than a prolonged whistle, followed by a still more prolonged stare. Thereafter he sauntered away slowly, ruminating, perhaps, on the fickle character of woman, even in her undeveloped stages. Tottie climbed hastily over a stile and turned into a green lane, where she meant to give full vent to her feelings in a satisfactory cry, when she was met face to face by Mr Abel Bones. "Why, father!" she exclaimed, running to her sire with a look of joyful surprise, for occasional bad treatment had failed to dry up the bottomless well of love in her little heart. "Hush! Tottie; there--take my hand, an' don't kick up such a row. You needn't look so scared at seein' me here. I'm fond o' the country, you know, an' I've come out to 'ave a little walk and a little talk with you.--Who was that you was talkin' with just now?" Tottie told him. "Stoppin' here, I s'pose?" "Yes. He's bin here for some time, but goes away soon--now that he's better. It was him as saved my life--at least him and Mr Aspel, you know." "No, I don't know, Tot. Let's hear all about it," replied Mr Bones, with a look of unwonted gravity. Tottie went off at once into a glowing account of the fire and the rescue, to which her father listened with profound attention, not unmingled with surprise. Then he reverted to the aspect of the surrounding country.