After Alyssa Rose was born, a special bond has formed. Ella loved her sister very much. Every day, Ella would help her mother take care of the baby. She would play, feed, bathe, read stories, and change her just like any big sister would, but the best part of the day was to rock Alyssa Rose to sleep. Ella would sing three different songs a night to the baby including "Mary Had a Little Lamb", "Rock-a-Bye-Baby", and "London Bridge". Then, she would sing her favorite one last. "Lavender's blue, dilly dilly, lavender's green. When I am king, dilly dilly, you shall be queen. Who told you so, dilly dilly, who told you so? 'Twas my own heart, dilly dilly that told me so..."
Alyssa Rose grew up to be an imaginative and playful toddler two years later. Like Ella, she loves to help her parents and the work-staff. She also loves being around the animals and would make Ella laugh by imitating the sounds they make. One day, while Sir Charles was on another business trip, Ella was teaching Alyssa Rose a hand-clapping game to the song, "A Sailor Went to Sea, Sea, Sea" when they heard a few squeaks. It was Jacqueline and Gus-Gus. "Well, hello friends," said Ella. Alyssa Rose took one close look at the mice and then hid behind Ella. "Don't be frightened," she said. "These are my friends. Come here." Ella put her sister on her lap and then held out her hand. Jacqueline and Gus-Gus scurried on to Ella's hand and squeaked. Ella put Jacqueline close to her ear and then she smiled. "They are saying that they didn't mean to frighten you and they really wanted to say hello." Alyssa Rose giggled as the mice scurried down from Ella's hands to hers. "Hello. My name's Lissie. Who are you?" Jacqueline squeakily introduced herself first and then she introduced Gus-Gus. "Nice to meet you," said Alyssa Rose. She turned to her sister and asked her how Ella knew what they were saying. "Mama asked me the same thing when I was your age," said Ella. "I understand how Jacqueline and Gus-Gus talk because I treated them with kindness." "Kind-ness," Alyssa Rose repeated. Ella smiled and hugged her sister and then they went back to their game.
A month later, Lady Eleanor and the girls were playing in the front yard when they heard a horse whinny. "Papa's home!" Alyssa Rose cried and ran to greet him. Ella ran after her. "Papa! Papa!" When he saw the girls, Sir Charles got down from the wagon and held out his arms. Ella and Alyssa Rose jumped up and hugged him. "Papa, welcome home!" "My beautiful girls. You two have grown." Lady Eleanor gave her husband a hug and a kiss. "What's that, Papa?" Alyssa Rose asked. "What? These?" Sir Charles asked, pretending to be confused. "I found them in a tree. I think there may be something inside." Ella and Alyssa Rose opened up the small packages and found two toy butterflies inside: a pink and blue butterfly for Ella and a pink and white butterfly for Alyssa Rose. "Oh, it's so pretty," Ella said. Then, the girls began to dance. Ella went first and Sir Charles playfully said, "Ouch. You're standing on my feet." "My turn, my turn, my turn!" Alyssa Rose said. "Up, Papa, up!" Sir Charles chuckled and picked up his youngest daughter and continued dancing. "Look, Mama! We're dancing!" Ella called. Lady Eleanor chuckled as the four went inside.
Soon after, Lady Eleanor got really sick. Ella and Sir Charles both took turns giving her broth and medicine. Ella would cool her mother's forehead with a cool washcloth when she had a fever. Alyssa Rose picked and gave Lady Eleanor flowers from the garden. No matter how much love and care Sir Charles and the girls gave her, Lady Eleanor could not get well. One evening, when the doctor came to the chateau, Ella and Alyssa Rose were waiting outside their bedroom door with Annette. It felt like a long time until the door opened and the girls stood up when they saw Sir Charles walking out with the doctor. "Thank you, Doctor." The doctor said goodbye and went out. "Papa?" Ella whispered. "Come, girls," Sir Charles said. Ella held Alyssa Rose's hand as they went inside. Alyssa Rose began to whimper as she saw Lady Eleanor in her bed. "Mama!" Alyssa Rose loosened her hand from Ella's and ran to give Lady Eleanor a hug. Ella also gave her a hug. "My darlings," Lady Eleanor said quietly. "I want to tell you both a secret that will see you through all the trials that life can offer. Girls, you must always remember this: Have courage and be kind. Ella and Lissie, you two have more kindness in your little fingers than most people possess in their whole body. And it has power, more than you know. And magic." "Magic?" Ella and Alyssa Rose asked at the same time. Lady Eleanor smiled. "Have courage and be kind, my darlings. Will you two promise me?" "We promise." "Good. I must go very soon, my loves. Please forgive me." "I forgive you, Mama," Alyssa Rose sobbed. "Of course I forgive you," Ella sobbed. "We love you, Mama," the girls sobbed together. "I love you," Lady Eleanor whispered to her daughters and husband. "I love you, my darling," replied Sir Charles. The girls hugged and kissed their mother and kept saying "I love you" while Sir Charles gave his wife one last kiss before she went away.