ODOUR OF CHRYSANTHEMUMS

from time to time and steadily watching, its ears
raised to listen. Sometimes even her anger quailed
and shrank, and the mother suspended her sewing,
tracing the footsteps that thudded along the sleepers
outside; she would lift her head sharply to bid
the children " hush," but she recovered herself
in time, and the footsteps went past the gate,
and the children were not flung out of their play-
world.

But at last Annie sighed, and gave in. She
glanced at her waggon of slippers, and loathed the
game. She turned plaintively to her mother.

" Mother ! " -- but she was inarticulate.

John crept out like a frog from under the sofa
His mother glanced up.

" Yes," she said, " just look at those shirt-
sleeves ! "

The boy held them out to survey them, saying
nothing. Then somebody called in a hoarse voice
away down the line, and suspense bristled in the
room, till two people had gone by outside, talking.

" It is time for bed," said the mother.

" My father hasn't come," wailed Annie plain
tively. But her mother was primed with courage.

" Never mind. They'll bring him when he does
come -- like a log." She meant there would be no
scene. " And he may sleep on the floor till he
wakes himself. I know he'll not go to work to-
morrow after this ! "*

The children had their hands and faces wiped
with a flannel. They were very quiet. When they
had put on their nightdresses, they said their
prayers, the boy mumbling. The mother looked