“Certainly; and for fear I may weary you now, I will retire, if you will promise to go too.”

She yielded willingly to Miss Vernon’s wish, and was led to her room, where the sensitive, pure being was soon at rest.

It seemed almost too early for any one to be stirring, when Miss Vernon heard a little tap on her door, and the next moment beheld a childish face peeping in.

“May I come?”

“Certainly.  I hope you have had pleasant dreams, Dawn.  Can you tell me why they gave you such a strange name?”

“Strange?  Why I am Dawn, that is the reason; and mamma was Twilight, only her mother did n’t give her the right name.”

“Have you slept well?”

“I did n’t know anything till I woke up.  Was that sleeping well?”

“I think it was.  Now will you tell me at what hour you have breakfast, that I may prepare myself in season?”

“When papa is at home, at eight o’clock.  This morning I am going to see Bessie, the new calf, and Minnie Day’s kittens, and Percy Willard’s new pony, so Aunt Sue says she can have breakfast any time.”

Miss Vernon upon this concluded that she need make no hasty toilet, and sank back upon her pillow to think awhile of her new surroundings.

Breakfast waited, but no Dawn appeared.  Aunt Sue, fearing that the toast and coffee might be spoiled, rang for Miss Vernon.

At eleven Dawn came in with soiled clothes and wet feet.

“O, Aunty, the pony was so wild, and the kittens so cunning, I could n’t come before.”

“And see your clothes, Dawn.  I must work very hard to-day to wash and dry them.  Now go to your room and change them all, and try to remember others when you are in your enjoyments, won’t you?”

“Yes, and I won’t soil them again, auntie.”

“Until the next time, I fear,” said the kind housekeeper, who was, perhaps, too forgiving with the strange, wild child.

The next day Dawn was filled with delight at her father’s return.  He came early in the morning, and found his pet awake and watching for his approach.

“O, papa, such a dream, a real dream, as I had last night.  Sit right here by the window, please, while I tell it to you.”

“Perhaps your dream will be so real that we shall not want anything more substantial for breakfast.”

“O, it’s better than food, papa.”

“Well, go on, my pet.”

“I was thinking how glad I should be to see my papa, when I went to sleep and had this beautiful dream:—­

“I was walking in a garden all full of flowers and vines, when I saw my mother coming towards me, with something upon her arm.  She came close, and then I saw it was a robe, O, such a white robe, whiter than snow.  She put it on me, and it was too long.  I asked if it was for me why it was so long.  ‘You will grow,’ she said, ’tall and beautiful, and need the long garment.’  Then she led the way, and motioned me to follow.