Ralph had a high chair close to Harriet's side; who told him at once carelessly that he might eat anything he liked for supper, and then devoted herself to telling amusing stories to two of the Amberleys and to Jane. But Ralph was not hungry. He was sleepy, and really wanted his bed. He was thinking very hard of his father. If only father were at home, things would be quite different. He would have said good-night long ago, and father would have come just before going downstairs, and would have kissed him, and would have said, "Good-night Ralph, old boy, sleep well, and dream good dreams, and remember to-morrow morning that you are some hours older than when you went to sleep, and ought to be some hours wiser." And then father would go away, and Ralph would whisper to himself the old childish charm which his nurse had taught him--his nurse who died long ago, and which he had never forgotten: "Matthew, Mark, Luke and John Bless the bed I lie on. Four corners to my bed: Five angels be there spread. Two at my head: Two at my feet: One at my heart, my soul to keep..." And then in a few minutes he would have been sound asleep. He nodded his head once or twice now, and finally upset a cup of chocolate which had been placed by his side. Some of the chocolate streamed over Harriet's white dress. She did not possess many clothes, and was consequently exceedingly angry. She tried to keep in her anger as best she could, but showed it notwithstanding all her efforts, by the colour in her cheeks and the way her pale blue eyes flashed. "Oh Ralph, how careless and awkward you are! Really, you must not do this sort of thing again." "I is seepy: I really want to go to bed," said Ralph. "I am awfu' sorry, Harriet, and when you saved my life and all! Oh, let me sop it up." He took his own table-napkin and tried to repair the mischief, but Harriet pulled her dress roughly out of his hands and, telling the other girls that she must go away to wash the stains out, left the room. "Now, Ralph," said Patience, when this had happened; "if I were you I would go straight off to my by-by downy nest; you know you are just longing to be in it." "I is," said Ralph, "but I mustn't go, must I, Robina?" He looked straight at Robina for guidance. "I don't know," replied Robina, just glancing at him, and then looking away. "But Robina, do tell him to _go_," said Patience. "If any two people at the present moment are supposed to have authority over Ralph, you and Harriet are those individuals. Harriet has gone away to mop her dress, and Ralph looks quite white with fatigue." "I cannot interfere," said Robina. "Very well," said Patience; "then I will: I am a school-mother too. This sort of thing has got to end. Come, Ralph, I shall take you to bed." "But won't Harriet be--be--angry?" said the little fellow, his lips quivering.