l out of breath. He rushed up the steps, ran
to his bed-room, took out his portfolio, threw himself on a seat before
the table, and wrote the following, sobbing more and more as he went
on:--

DEAR AUNTY,--I want your help. Something has happened that may have
very unpleasant consequences, and you are the only person that can
help me; you will know how. I really did mean to be careful, just
as my father bade me, and not do anything out of the way, and
particularly not make a noise. You will not think that I did wrong
to select the best of the mottoes. You know you said yourself that
though we had no tyrants ourselves, yet, where there were any, it
was a splendid verse. I cannot explain it all exactly, but we were
taken by surprise in the middle of a perfectly harmless meeting. We
succeeded in escaping, but I think perhaps we shall be prosecuted;
and if my name comes out, they may write to papa from the court of
justice here, and that would be horrible. You will stand by me,
won't you, dear aunty? If a letter should come to my father,
couldn't you get hold of it and read it and answer it yourself,
without letting him know? You can explain to the gentlemen that we
were only having a little Swiss celebration just among ourselves.
Pray do help me, and not let the story get out. I hope you will
write to-morrow and tell us to come home. We have been away long
enough. I am sure papa and mamma would be glad, for we cannot do
our lessons nicely here, at all. Everything is far better at home;
things are better arranged, and the amusements are a great deal
better. Do write to us to come home directly; and tell me too that
you have done what I ask about the letter to papa. Best love,
dearest aunty,

From your loving nephew,

OSCAR.

The letter was folded in haste, and the address quickly added; and the
writer ran with all his might to the post-office, a short distance from
the house. He had to hurry, for it was nearly supper-time. As he came
tearing along into the court-yard at Rosemount, on his return, he
started back; for there stood one of the men in uniform, with the
deserted banner in his hand. He was waiting to be let in. The door
opened. He entered. Oscar drew back behind a great oak-tree. His heart
beat like a trip-hammer. What was going on inside there? Mrs. Stanhope
would know now all abou