"Well, it han't come, child, and I have got Mr. Preston to write about it, and if he don't have an answer soon and a check into the bargain, out you and Maurice will have to go. I'm a poor woman myself, and I can't afford to keep no beggar brats. That'll be worse nor a fire in your bedroom, I guess, Cecile." "If the money don't come, where'll you send us, Mrs. Purcell, please?" asked Cecile, her face very pale. "Oh! 'tis easy to know where, child--to the Union, of course." Cecile had never heard of the Union. "Is it far away? and is it a nice place?" she asked innocently. Lydia laughed and held up her hands. "Of all the babies, Cecile D'Albert, you beat them hallow," she said. "No, no, I'll tell you nothing about the Union. You wait till you see it. You're so queer, maybe you'll like it. There's no saying--and Maurice'll get his share of the fire. Oh, yes, he'll get his share." "And Toby! Will Toby come too?" asked Cecile. "Toby! bless you, no. There's a yard of rope for Toby. He'll be managed cheaper than any of you. Now go, child, go!" CHAPTER IX. "THE ADVENT OF THE GUIDE." Cecile crept upstairs again very, very slowly, and sat down by Maurice's side. "Maurice, dear," she said to her little brother, "I ha' no good news for you. Aunt Lydia won't allow no fire, and you must just get right into bed, and I'll lie down and put my arms round you, and Toby shall lie at your feet. You'll soon be warm then, and maybe if you're a very good boy, and don't cry, I'll make up a little fairy tale for you, Maurice." But Maurice was sick and very miserable, and he was in no humor even to be comforted by what at most times he considered the nicest treat in the world--a story made up by Cecile. "I hate Aunt Lydia Purcell," he said; "I hate her, Cecile." "Oh, don't! Maurice, darling. Father often said it was wrong to hate anyone, and maybe Aunt Lydia does find us very expensive. Do you know, Maurice, she told me just now that our cousin in France has never sent her any money all this time? And you know how reliable our cousin always was; and Aunt Lydia says if the money does not come soon, she will send us away, quite away to another home. We are to go to a place called 'The Union.' She says it is not very far away, and that it won't be a bad home. At least, you will have a fire to warm yourself by there, Maurice." "Oh!" said Maurice excitedly, "don't you _hope_ our cousin in France won't send the money, Cecile? Couldn't you write, or get someone to write to him, telling him not to send the money?"