Perhaps the being in a different apartment from usual, and the
missing her accustomed sleeping companion, Eleanor, had something to
do with it, for little Eleanor had a gravity and steadiness about her
that was very apt to compose and quiet her in her idlest moods. To-
night she lay broad awake, tumbling about on the very hard mattress,
stuffed with chaff, wondering how Rose could bear to sleep on it,
trying to guess how there could be room for both when her sister came
to bed, and nevertheless in a great fidget for her to come. She
listened to the howling and moaning of the wind, the creaking of the
doors, and the rattling of the boards with which Rose had stopped up
the broken panes of her lattice; she rolled from side to side,
fancied odd shapes in the dark, and grew so restless and anxious for
Rose's coming that she was just ready to jump out of bed and go in
the passage to call her when Rose came into the room.
"O Rose, what a time you have been!"
It was no satisfaction to Rose to find the curious little chatter-box
so wide awake at this very inconvenient time, but she did not lose
her patience, and answered that she had been first with Charlie, and
then with their mother.
"And now I hope you are coming to bed. I can't go to sleep without
you."
"Oh, but indeed you must, Lucy dear, for I shall not be ready this
long time.
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