“O! no! don’t take her away!” said Harriet, eagerly, “she is so good with me! I assure you she is not frightened in the least bit, are you, my little love?” she added, addressing the infant. “And nurse tells me her name is Ethel, so I have ordered them to make her a little gold bangle with ‘Ethel’ on it, and she must wear it for my sake, darling little creature!” “But, Miss Brandt, you must not buy such expensive things for her, indeed. She is too young to appreciate them, besides I do not like you to spend so much money on her!” “But why shouldn’t I? What am I to do with my money, if I may not spend it on others?” “But, such a quantity of toys! Surely, you have not bought all these for my baby!” “Of course I have! I would have bought the whole shop if it would have pleased her! She likes the colours! Little darling! look how earnestly she gazes at me with her lovely grey eyes, as if she knew what a little beauty I think her! O! you pretty dear! you sweet pink and white baby!” Mrs. Pullen felt somewhat annoyed as she saw the dolls and furry animals which were strewn upon the sands, at the same time she was flattered by the admiration exhibited of her little daughter, and the endearments lavished upon her. She considered them all well deserved (as what mother would not?)--and it struck her that Harriet Brandt must be a kindhearted, as well as a generous girl to spend so much money on a stranger’s child. “She certainly does seem wonderfully good with you,” she observed presently, “I never knew her so quiet with anybody but her nurse or me, before. Isn’t it marvellous, Nurse?” “It is, Ma’am! Baby do seem to take surprisingly to the young lady! And perhaps I might go into the town, as she is so quiet, and get the darning-wool for your stockings!” “O! no! no! We must not let Miss Brandt get tired of holding her. She is too heavy to be nursed for long!” “Indeed, indeed she is not!” cried Harriet, “do let me keep her, Mrs. Pullen, whilst nurse goes on her errand. It is the greatest pleasure to me to hold her. I should like never to give her up again!” Margaret smiled. “Very well, Nurse, since Miss Brandt is so kind, you can go!” As the servant disappeared, she said to Harriet, “Mind! you give her to me directly she makes your arm ache! I am more used to the little torment than you are.” “How can you call her by such a name, even in fun? What would I not give to have a baby of my very own to do what I liked with? I would never part with it, night nor day, I would teach it to love me so much, that it should never be happy out of my sight!” “But that would be cruel, my dear! Your baby might have to part with you, as you have had to part with your mother!”