will be very nice indeed," said his aunt in a tone of
conviction; "that will remove all difficulties; and the verses are
really very suitable, as such verses ought to be."

"You will help Emma with the embroidery, won't you, aunty? You know she
will never finish the banner by herself. She is always up to so many
pranks, and she cannot keep at one thing half an hour at a time."

His aunt promised her assistance, and he ran off, well pleased, to tell
his friends of their new ally. Rikli thought her chance had come now,
but before she could begin her story Emma rushed in, crying, almost out
of breath:--

"Aunty! aunty! They are all going to gather strawberries--a lot of boys
and girls--may I go too? Say 'yes' quick, for I can't get at mamma and
they won't wait."

"Strawberries to-day, violets yesterday, and blueberries to-morrow;
always something or other; that is the way with you, Emma. Well, go, but
do not stay out too late."

"I want to go too," cried Rikli, and started after her sister.

But Emma, clearing the steps in two jumps, called back:--

"No, you can't go into the woods; there are red snails there and beetles
and--"

But Rikli did not wait to hear more; she was reminded of the frog, and
turned back to tell her story, when she saw Fred coming in with his book
under his arm. He seated himself by his aunt and opened the book.

"How nice it is to find you, aunty," he began, "Mamma couldn't wait to
hear the end of this description; and it was a pity, for I had found
such a perfect specimen. But I'll find another to-morrow to show you."

"No! no!" cried Rikli. "Say 'no,' aunty; it will jump right into your
face, and it has yellow eyes like a dragon's."

Fred had doubled up his fist as if he had something in it, and now he
suddenly opened it into his sister's face. She sprang back with a cry,
and away through the door.

"Now we can have a little peace," said Fred, well pleased at the success
of his trick; and he began to read.

"'The green or water-frog, _esculenta_'--"

At this moment the house-door was opened, and they heard footsteps and
voices in the passage-way.

"Come," said his aunt, "let us look out at the little sick girl who is
going away; then we will come back to the frog."

They went to the window and looked out. A sad expression came into the
good aunt's face as she saw the little girl lifted into the carriage.

"How sick and pale she looks, poor little thing! or, rather, poor
sorro