S-t-a-n," said Nelly.

"Yes; now spell ti," added Willie.

"T-i, ti."

"No," said the boy, shaking his head solemnly.

"T-y," again tried the little girl.

"No," said Willie still more seriously.

"T-i-e," shouted Frankie.

"No," again repeated Willie.

"N-o, no," said his father.

Nelly and her cousin looked astonished.

"O father! That wasn't fair," cried Willie. "They wouldn't have spelt it
at all."

"When I went to school," said his father, laughing, "any body in the
class had a right to spell the word if the others missed it."

When the travellers stopped for dinner, it rained so hard, that Mr. Gray
said he didn't know as they would be able to go on. They were in a
small, poorly-furnished tavern; and it did not look as if they would
have a very good time if they staid.

"We are quite comfortable behind," said the lady; "but it must be very
bad for you."

"The boot comes up so high that it keeps the rain out, except from my
face," said Mr. Gray. "Perhaps I can manage in some way to carry an
umbrella."

"That would be too hard," replied the lady. "If you think it best, I am
willing to stay."

After waiting at the tavern about two hours for the horses to rest, Mr.
Gray told the children to make haste and put on their clothes, as the
carriage was coming to the door. They did not know, until then, whether
they were to go or stay.

"Do you think it best to go?" asked the lady. "It is raining so hard, I
am afraid you will be very wet."

"O, look at the carriage, papa!" shouted Frankie, as it drove past the
window.

"I found a nice leather curtain in the box," said the gentleman, "which
will shield me entirely."

"What a pity you did not find it this morning!" said Willie.

When they were seated in the carriage, they rode for nearly a mile
before there was much said by the children. The new curtain proved a
good screen from the rain, so that Mr. Gray was able to enjoy the ride
as well as the rest of the party.

Frankie had been watching the drops as they fell from the lower edge of
the curtain upon the leather boot; at last he said, "It seems as if we
were in the ark."

"Why?" asked his mother, with a smile.

"Because--because it seems as if we were out in the rain, with waters
all around us; but we are safe in here, and nothing can harm us."

"What shall we do now?" asked Willie. "Play school again? I call it real
good fun."

"Let us sing," said Nelly.

"So we will; so we will!" and