closer and closer behind her.
Already she could feel a hot breath on her neck." (So could Robin on
his, for that matter.) "But she did not give in. She ran faster and
faster until----"

"You've forgotten to say she could hear its webbed feet going _pad pad_
over the slippery stanes," interpolated Phillis anxiously.

"So I did. I'm sorry. She could hear its webbed feet going _pad pad_
over the slippery stanes. Presently though, she came to a wee bit housie
on the moor. It was empty, but she slippit through the yard-gate and
flew along the path and in at the door. The Kelpie came flying through
the gate----"

"No, no--it loupit ower the dyke!" screamed Phillis, who would
countenance no tamperings with the original text.

"Oh, yes. It loupit ower the dyke, but the wee lassie just slammed the
door in its face, and turned the key. Then she felt round in the dark
and keeked about, wondering what kind of place she was in. And at that
very moment, through a bit window in the wall----"

"She went ben first."

"Oh, yes. She went ben; and at that very moment, through the bit window
in the back-end of the house, there came a ray of light. The sun----"

"The sun had risen," declaimed Phillis, triumphantly taking up the tale;
"and with one wild sheriek of disappointed rage the Kelpie vanished
away, and the wee lassie was _saved_!"

There was a rapt pause after this exciting anecdote. Then Phillis
remarked--

"Uncle Robin, let's write that story down, and then I can get people to
read it to me."

"Why not write it down for yourself?"

"I can't write--much; and it ought to be writed in ink, and I--I am only
allowed to use pencil," explained my daughter, not without a certain
bitterness. "But I put the lead in my mouf," she added defiantly.

At this moment the door of my apartment was hurled open, and Gerald
projected himself into the room. It was the evening before his return to
school, and there was a predatory look in his eye. He was accompanied by
his speechless friend.

"Adrian, old son," he began, in such tones as an orator might address to
a refractory mob, "Moke and I are going to have a study next term, and
we want some furniture."

I mildly remarked that in my day furniture was supplied by the school
authorities.

"Yes, but I mean pictures and things. Can you give us one? We shall want
something to go on that wall opposite the window, shan't we, Moke? The
place where young Lee missed your head with the red