upraising his
sparkling eyes to his father's face.

"Oh, no, Roland, you are such a wee boy; if you have it, Leonard will
want it."

"I do like it so much; let me have just a little drop in papa's glass,"
teased Roland.

"Oh, come, mamma; that'll never hurt him; only help to make a man of
him, won't it, Roland?" said his father.

"Yes, make me a man, like my papa! When I'm big, I'll drink, oh, bottles
and bottles; not have a taste of papa's," said the child, looking
contemptuously at the remains of the sparkling wine, which, in his
father's glass, had been set before him.

"When you're a man, Roland, you will be a little wiser than you are
now," said his father, somewhat sharply.

"I'll be as wise as--as--that man in the picture on the library wall,
perhaps."

"Who's that?" asked the guest, in amused tones.

"Why, Gladstone! The precocious youngster strongly admires him, and is
for ever declaring his intention of copying his hero's plan of life."

"He has the brow and eye of a genius, West!" said the visitor, gazing in
admiration at the boy's face. "I wish I had such a child! What are you
going to make of him?"

"I'll give him a good education, first; fit him for the bar, if he takes
kindly to the idea, and he ought, for he talks like a lawyer already.
Yes, he'll make his mark, I shouldn't wonder," replied the father, with
pride; "but what's the matter with the boy? sleepy! at this time! Here,
sit up! Mamma, his forehead's burning. Lucy, has he had a fall
upstairs?"

"No, papa: but he was asleep when Barnes came for us, and nurse had to
wake him up to come down."

Mr. and Mrs. West looked anxiously at the child, who was already asleep,
and after observing his flushed cheeks and heavy breathing, Mrs. West
sent for the nurse.

"Nurse," she said, as the servant entered the room, "have you noticed
Master Roland seeming unwell to-day?"

"No, ma'am, he was as bright as usual this morning; but, when we were at
dinner, I happened to turn my head to attend to Miss Hetty, and Master
Roland emptied my glass of ale, and since then he has been very drowsy,
and I could scarcely rouse him to bring him downstairs."

"Oh, nurse, I wish you would take your ale some other time; if the
children see you taking it they are sure to want it, and I never allow
them to touch anything but a little wine," exclaimed Mrs. West.

"Roland won't come to any harm, my dear, so don't trouble yourself.
Carry him away, nurse, and put h