s seated, they
began to consult about what they should play at. As Miss Darwell had
not often any children to play with, she did not know of half the games
that others did.

"Let us play at Little Edwy and the Echo," said Lucy.

"But we have no echo here," said Miss Darwell.

"Then Henry shall be Edwy, and I will be the echo: and it is me you
shall try to catch," replied Lucy; "and you shall have to run for it.
Henry, you must call, and I will answer, but they shall not find me."

Lucy could run almost as quick as a greyhound, and she managed the game
so well, that it took up the whole time Mrs. Colvin allowed them to
stay out of doors. It was getting hot, and they went back into the
house, and to their room.

"Now," said Mrs. Colvin, "you shall take your visitors into your
play-room, Miss Darwell, and leave the door open, my dear, that I may
hear you and see you; I know you like to have me near you."

"Yes, I do, dear Mrs. Colvin," said Miss Darwell; and she put her arms
round the excellent governess's neck and kissed her; and then, running
and opening a door, led her visitors into a large room which they had
not seen before. It was furnished with shelves, on which many books and
toys were ranged in order--for it was one of Mrs. Colvin's wishes to
make her pupil neat.

Mr. Fairchild's children quite cried out at the sight of these things;
there were enough to furnish a toy-shop, besides the books.

Miss Darwell said, "Which would you like?"

Henry fixed upon a large Noah's ark, and when it was reached down, he
placed himself on the floor, and made a procession of its inmates. He
placed Noah himself in front, with his little painted wife, and Shem,
Ham, and Japhet, and their wives after him. Then came the beasts, and
then the birds, and then the insects and creeping things. Lucy chose a
dissected map of England and Wales, and another which formed a picture;
and Emily, a box of bricks and doorways, and pillars and chimneys,
and other things for building houses.

Mrs. Colvin had told the children that they were to keep themselves
quiet till dinner-time; so Miss Darwell took her doll, and for a long
time they were all very still with their toys: they were to dine at
half-past one, and Henry had not done with his ark when a female
servant came into the outer room to lay the cloth.

[Illustration: "_For a long time they all very still with their toys._"
--Page 389.]

"It is time to put up now," said Mrs. Colvi