r brother, is your time; you can run down one bank and
up another in a few minutes; you can run to mamma, and beg her pardon
for being sullen and disobedient to her this morning at breakfast; and
then, my dear, dear brother, you will have made a good beginning, and
we shall all be so happy.'

"Bernard had laid himself at full length on the grass, amusing himself,
whilst his sister spoke, with kicking his legs. He was trying with all
his might and main to harden himself against what she said; and
succeeded in making himself as stupid as a mere brick.

"When she pressed him to run to his father, he drew up his legs and lay
with his knees above all the rest of him, and his eyes staring up to
the tree above his head, so that an owl could not have looked more
stupid.

"Lucilla felt more sad than she had done before, when she saw how
determined he was not to listen to her. She knew not what next to do or
say; but whilst she was thinking, a dog was heard to bark on the other
side the hedge which was behind them, and a voice saying, 'Be quiet,
Pincher.'

"'Why, that is Stephen,' cried Bernard, jumping on his feet; 'what can
he be doing here?'

"He flew to the hedge, he sprang up the bank, and called to Stephen,
who was walking along the path on the other side with his dog Pincher.

"'Stop, stop!' cried Bernard; 'stop and I will come to you. Good-bye,
Lucilla, you can go home by yourself;' and the next minute the rude boy
had tumbled over the fence, and was running after Stephen.

"Poor Bernard little thought what he lost when he refused to listen to
Lucilla, and what great pleasure he would have gained, had he done what
she required of him, and run to beg his father's pardon.

"No one can say what a day may bring forth; and who could have foreseen
the very strange thing which had happened whilst Lucilla and Bernard
were out that morning? It was an affair of very serious business, which
must be told: but as most young people hate business, it shall be told
as shortly as possible.

"Mr. Low's brother had been a very wild boy, and had run away; so that
for many years Mr. Low had heard nothing about him. At last he got a
letter; it was a kind and humble one: in this letter Mr. John Low sent
word, that after many adventures he had made some money, and bought a
farm in America, on the banks of the Hudson, above New York; that he
was doing very well, that he had never married, and only wished that
his brother would come and