rich old merchant in the City, Frank," replied Miss
Watson, smiling, "you will find the 'vexation' a pleasure, as you add up
your pounds and shillings, or calculate the value of your cargoes!"

"I wonder if Sir Walter Raleigh bothered his head with all this
rubbish," growled Frank. "I daresay he counted up his ingots on his
fingers. Such a leader as he was never wasted his time and trouble on
the bothering old multiplication tables, _I_ know."

"Raleigh was a scholar and a poet too, Frank," replied Miss Watson; "you
could hardly have chosen a worse example of your theory. He was an Oriel
College man, and wrote a history of the world during his captivity in
the Tower. He employed his imprisonment better than you have done, you
see!"

"I have finished my copy, Miss Watson," said Celia, "may I go now,
please? I have nothing more to do until the afternoon."

"Yes, Celia; but, Florry, how carelessly you have written yours! I am
afraid the thoughts of going to the sea have bewildered your little head
so, that your fingers have travelled along without any guidance, like
runaway horses with the coachman fast asleep!"

Florry blushed and hung her head over the ill-written book, and was
silent, for she knew that she had been thinking more of the pleasure
before her, and musing where her wooden spade could be, than of her
lessons; I am afraid that morning set a mark of "Careless!" in both
Frank's and her score. However, school time ended at last, and off with
a shout went Frank to hear all about the plans from Celia, for he had no
doubt she had been talking the matter over with Mamma. Miss Watson was
putting on her bonnet and mantle in order to return home for the usual
weekly half holiday, when Mrs. Spenser entered the room.

"I find, Miss Watson," said she, smiling, "that Frank's long ears have
managed to catch what Mr. Spenser and I have been arranging for the
summer holidays. The house is so very dirty and worn now, after our long
residence in it, that we find it will be best to set about a thorough
course of paint, paper, and whitewash, so that I have resolved to give
the children a month at Sandbay during these holidays, which will do
them all a great deal of good, I think."

"I hope it will, indeed," replied Miss Watson; "and I am sure you will
find it more agreeable to leave the house in possession of the workmen;
all painting and papering is so unpleasant to endure."

"Yes, indeed," said Mrs. Spenser, "I have a g