Give me a good hug!" Something in those homely words, or something perhaps in the look that accompanied them, touched sympathies in Isabel which seldom showed themselves on the surface.

Her smiling lips trembled, the bright tears rose in her eyes.

"You are too good to me," she murmured, with her head on Lady Lydiard's bosom.

"How can I ever love you enough in return ?" Lady Lydiard patted the pretty head that rested on her with such filial tenderness.

"There! there!" she said, "Go back and play with Tommie, my dear.