ously
exercised a softening influence on his little admirer. We have said
that they studied and read together. Hence Pax was learned beyond his
years and station. The fitness therefore of the four to associate
pleasantly has, we think, been clearly made out.

Pax, at all events, had not a shadow of a doubt on that point,
especially when the four lay down under the shadow of a spreading oak to
examine the butterflies and moths they had captured in the fields.

"What babies we are," said Phil, "to go after butterflies in this
fashion!"

"Speak for yourself," retorted Pax; "I consider myself an entomologist
gathering specimens. Call 'em specimens, Phil; that makes a world of
difference.--Oh, Tot! what a splendid one you have got there! It
reminds me so of the time when I used to carry you about the fields on
my back, and call you Merry. Don't you remember?"

"No," said Tottie, "I don't."

"And _won't_ you let me call you Merry?" pleaded Pax.

"No, I won't. I don't believe you ever carried me on your back, or that
my name was Merry."

"What an unbeliever!" exclaimed Pax.

"You can't deny that you are merry to-day, Tot," said May.

Tot did not deny it, but, so to speak, admitted it by starting up and
giving sudden chase to a remarkably bright butterfly that passed at the
moment.

"And don't you remember," resumed Pax, when she returned and sat down
again by his side, "the day when we caught the enormous spider, which I
kept in a glass box, where it spun a net and caught the flies I pushed
into the box for it to feed on? No? Nor the black beetle we found
fighting with another beetle, which, I tried to impress on you, was its
grandmother, and you laughed heartily as if you really understood what I
said, though you didn't. You remember that, surely? No? Well, well--
these joys were thrown away on you, for you remember nothing."

"O yes, I do remember something," cried Tottie. "I remember when you
fell into the horse-pond, and came out dripping, and covered from head
to foot with mud and weeds!"

She followed up this remark with a merry laugh, which was suddenly
checked by a shrill and terrible cry from the neighbouring field.

In order to account for this cry, we must state that Miss Lillycrop,
desirous of acquiring an appetite for dinner by means of a short walk,
left Rosebud Cottage and made for the dell, in which she expected to
meet May Maylands and her companions. Taking a short cut, she cross