in which Fani could make himself agreeable to Mrs.
Stanhope.

"You'd far better not think about it at all, my child," replied her
mother. "Enjoy with Fani the pleasures and advantages of his life, and
don't try to bring about any special event, as you are so fond of doing.
And one thing more: don't forget to pray every day to God to protect you
and to help you to carry out all your good resolutions. Now that you are
leaving home, my only comfort is that our Father's hand is still about
you, there as well as here. Promise me that you will pray for the
heavenly blessing every night, as we do together at home."

Emma promised not to neglect her morning and evening prayers, and begged
her mother to have no anxiety about her.

Meanwhile, aunty had been standing by the window, talking with Fred.

"Pray be careful," she said, "never by any chance to let one of your
small creatures, even the prettiest one, escape out of your pockets upon
the table or the floor. In fact, you would do better not to put them
into your pockets at all, for fear of some such mishap, as often occurs
at home. It would spoil all the pleasure of your visit; for Mrs.
Stanhope would neither understand nor forgive such carelessness."

"Don't worry, aunty," replied the boy; "I'll fix them so they can't
stir. I'll bring them all safe home to you, and I'm sure you will be
delighted with them."

Rikli had been meanwhile listening to one person and another, catching
the words of warning and advice as they were given to the three
travellers, and dwelling with pride and pleasure at the thought that she
was the only one who did not need any caution.

To her aunt's closing words to Fred, she added quickly:--

"Yes, yes! how Mrs. Stanhope would stare to see a horrid frog or a red
snail or a blind worm come hopping over her white table-cloth!"

"Well, I think any one would stare, to see a snail or a worm hop
anywhere!" said the boy laughing.

"You'd see what she would say, and how she would put you out of the
house in no time, and take all your food away."

"I don't believe I should _see_ her say anything at all," retorted Fred,
with another laugh.

"You'd find out how it would be, when you were sent home in disgrace;
and you'd be ashamed to be seen in the railway carriage, and by the
children in school."

"I don't mean to find out anything of the kind," said Fred, and the
contest dropped.

The coachman cracked his whip as a signal that it was high ti