t I was going to come down again--Mamma
dear, why is you crying?"

[Illustration]

A FOUR-FOOTED GENTLEMAN.

"Open the door, quick, Sybil. Don't you see my hands are full? What a
stupid you are! Yes, that'll do. Now you can shut it after me."

And Archie came forward to the table where his aunt was sitting, a large
tray spread over with specimens of seaweed that he had been drying and
arranging, in his hands.

"Since when, have 'if you please' and 'thank you,' gone out of fashion,
may I ask, Archie?" said his aunt.

The boy grew very red, but he laughed good-humouredly.

"I didn't mean to be rude," he said. "But Sybil doesn't mind. Do you,
Sybil?"

[Illustration]

"No," replied the little girl. "Archie isn't ever really unkind like
some boys. Still I think it _is_ nice when people thank you and speak
politely to each other. But still, of course, Archie is only a boy."

[Illustration]

"And can a boy not be a gentleman, do you think, Sybil? What do you say
about it yourself, Archie?"

"Oh, I know I _should_," he replied rather shamefacedly, "but you see,
Auntie, I forget, or else even if I don't forget, it doesn't seem worth
while."

"Be true to your instincts, my boy. Civility and gentleness are _always_
'worth while.' Above all, from man to woman, or boy to girl. And
gratitude even for the smallest service is always the sign of a fine
nature. That reminds me--"

"Of what? Do tell us, Auntie;" said both children, pricking up their
ears.

"Of a little adventure of mine the other day. It is nothing of a story,
so don't expect one;" for the word "adventure" had evidently caught
their attention. "But it was so pretty and touching, it struck me very
much, and made me think how often we might, with benefit, take example
by our humble brethren--even in _manners_, children."

"Do you mean poor people?" said Sybil doubtfully. "I know some are very
good and nice--some _quite_ poor children even. But a good many are very
rough and rude, Auntie?"

"Yes, and there is much more excuse for them, of course, if they are so,
for often they have not been taught better. But I was not thinking of
people or children at all just then, Sybil. The little 'gentleman'
whose manners I admired so much was a--" She stopped again and smiled,
while Archie and Sybil looked up in perplexity.

"A _what_, Auntie?"

[Illustration]

"A little _dog_, my dears!--Yes, you may well look surprised. Listen and
I will tell you