.

Two of Them Sleep Badly.
Waiting for Sydney to come into the bedroom as usual and wish her good-night, Kitty was astonished by the appearance of her grandmother, entering on tiptoe from the corridor, with a small paper parcel in her hand.
"Whisper!" said Mrs.Presty, pointing to the open door of communication with Mrs.Linley's room.

"This is your birthday present.

You mustn't look at it till you wake to-morrow morning." She pushed the parcel under the pillow--and, instead of saying good-night, took a chair and sat down.
"May I show my present," Kitty asked, "when I go to mamma in the morning ?" The present hidden under the paper wrapper was a sixpenny picture-book.
Kitty's grandmother disapproved of spending money lavishly on birthday gifts to children.

"Show it, of course; and take the greatest care of it," Mrs.Presty answered gravely.