For some hours the lightning flashed and the thunder rolled, but the children slept peacefully in their bed. It was the mother who lay awake too overjoyed to sleep. The morning dawned clear and bright, and everything out of doors smelled sweet and fresh after the rain. Little Kit sat on her father's knee at breakfast, with a basin of bread and milk before her. She looked very pale and thin, though a sweet smile of content was on her lips. She took a few spoonfuls, and then put the basin gently from her. "No more, now," she said. "I wish we might take it to Tommy Perrin, he doesn't get such nice things." "Why Kit! we are ever so far away from the Perrins," answered Ben, "and this lady says that we are not going any more." "No, you shall never leave mother any more, Kittie," she said. "And Ben, dear, call me Aunt. I am your aunt, and Kittie's father is your uncle. Try and remember to do so and please me, there is a good boy." Ben shook his head. "Kit and I always call folks by the same name, don't we, Kit? and it seems awful strange to do different. Couldn't you be my mother, mam, too?" said the little fellow, looking Mrs. Gray full in the face. "I'd help you as best I could; I'd dress Kit and little Harry and take them out walks; and I'd chop sticks and light fires; and I could cook herrings and carry water; and I'd go out and sell matches, and bring home the coppers to you." Mrs. Gray's eyes filled with tears. "You are right, Ben," she said, "call us father and mother, and we'll all live happy together; you shall help me as much as you can, and we'll put you to school; and when you've learned to read and to write you shall be a message boy. Am I saying right, Harry?" she asked her husband. "You couldn't have spoken more to my mind. If the little chap is honest and willing, we'll make a man of him, and try and be father and mother, if Rogers will let us. Now, I must be off to work," he added, kissing Kit, and tossing baby Harry in the air. "Take care of her, mother, and try and bring some roses into her cheeks, for she looks very tender." And he shook his head rather sorrowfully. "You don't think there is anything really wrong, do you?" asked his wife, anxiously. "No, no, I hope not; but she'll need all your care; she has only eaten enough for her breakfast to feed a sparrow. Take her into the fields, and give her fresh milk;--with God's blessing she'll get on." A neighbour, who had heard the good news of Ben and Kit's arrival, came in after breakfast with her arms full of clothes to lend the little ones till they were better provided for. "Here's some of Mary's and Billy's bits of things to dress them up in. I was saying to my husband it will take Mrs. Gray some time to make them look decent; and we can spare these for a few days while she is rigging them up. Said he, 'You're right, wife; suppose it had been our Mary!'"