Nannie bemoaned her darling’s taste, and the nursery-maid blushed for very shame.

“Not but what it’s quite clean, miss,” Nannie said; “it’s been thoroughly washed in carbolic.”

Meanwhile Sara was rocking herself backward and forward in a manner truly maternal and singing her version of “Jesus Tender” to her “lubbly blush.”

“I thought she would love the rabbit,” I said, and Nannie, by way of consolation, assured me that there was really nothing Sara loved so much as a rabbit.  I suppose Nannie knew, and that it was only another instance of the folly of judging from appearances.

“You will love your bunny, won’t you, darling?” said Nannie; “nice bunny! "

“Nasty bunny,” said Sara with great decision.

“That’s naughty, baby,” said Nannie; “nice bunny!”

“Naughty bunny,” said Sara, “vake Yaya’s yubbly vitty blush.”  And she resumed her singing with religious fervor.

Nannie was really quite upset, and apologized for her charge.  I accepted the apology and resolved then and there to send the despised rabbit to the Children’s Hospital by the next post.  Have you ever given a toy-balloon to a child, and had the child say, “Balloons don’t amuse?” I have.

Nannie then, by way of consolation, suggested that Sara should say her prayers at my knee.  It was the greatest compliment she could pay any one.  Sara consented after much pressure, and she knelt down and proceeded to pack up her face.  No other word to my mind describes the process.  First of all she shut her eyes tight.  To keep them tight seemed to require a great physical effort; this was done by tightly screwing up her nose.  Next she proceeded to gather her eyebrows into the smallest possible compass, and then she drew a deep breath, folded her small hands, and started off at a terrific pace, “Gaw bess parver yan muvver yan nannie yan hughyan betty yan dicky an aunt woggles yan ellen yan emma yan croft — yan blusby yan all ve vitty children yan make dem velly good boys yan make my nastyole bunnyagoodgirl.  May Yaya get up?”

“Not yet, baby, think,” said Nannie.

Sara thought, and then with a fresh access of solemnity repeated an entirely new version of the Lord’s Prayer.  Nannie understood it evidently, for at a point quite unintelligible to me, Nannie said, “Good girl!” and Sara jumped up.

Nannie told me that nothing would induce Sara to pray that she might be made good.  She was always very ready to make such petitions on the behalf of Betty and Hugh, but for herself, no.  She is not like Betty, who at her age prayed, “Dear God, please make me a good little girl, but if you can’t manage it, don’t bother about it; Nannie will soon do it.”

Difficult and tedious as the task may have appeared to Betty, I think it was assuredly within the power of God to make her good without the intervention of Nannie.  Dear Betty!

Sara was then put to bed, and while Nannie brushed her hair, Sara brushed the hearth-brush’s hair.  Sara was very anxious to have it in her bath with her, but here Nannie was firm.