ity;
With song and the juice of the vine,"

repeated Oscar.

"Is that all?"

Oscar nodded.

"Well, we cannot put that on the banner, at any rate," said his aunt
decidedly. "Tell Feklitus that there isn't even a verb in that motto,
and it won't do. I advise you to ask him to make the speech at the
festival, and then perhaps he'll drop the question of the motto."

"What a splendid idea! We never even thought of a speech! that's just
the thing!" and Oscar rushed away in a state of great enthusiasm.

"Now, aunty," cried Emma, in a tone of relief as he disappeared, "it's
my turn now. Don't you think I am right?"

"I didn't hear exactly what you said, Emma," said her aunt; "I haven't
the gift of hearing different things with different ears at the same
time."

"What I say is that it's a shame for Fani to have to go to work in that
factory, and not have any time to paint and draw. I am sure he ought to
be a painter, right away; and if he goes into the factory he can't get
out till it's too late."

"But, Emma, it's not such an easy thing to become a painter as you seem
to think. And, then, who knows whether Fani has really talent enough;
it needs much more than merely to be able to copy nicely at school, you
know."

"But, aunty, I only want you to say that it would be much better for
Fani to be a painter, if he can, than to go into the factory. Now, don't
you really and truly think so, aunty?"

Emma was so pressing that her aunt could not avoid answering her; so she
said kindly, "If Fani had any real prospect of becoming a painter, I
should certainly think well of it; but I do not see that he has any."

"May I go on now, aunty?" asked Fred; "it seems to me that Emma is
talking a vast deal of nonsense, as usual."

But Emma was not to be put off so.

"Aunty," she said, "what is a decorator?"

"A person who decorates; that is, adorns or beautifies. Why do you ask,
my child?"

"It means a scene-painter too; a man who paints scenery for the stage,"
said Fred.

"Yes, that's it," said Emma, and she scampered away.

Fred sat silent for a while, and then he said:--

"Aunty dear, did you notice how queerly Emma behaved? Do you suppose she
is thinking of going on the stage?"

"No, indeed, my dear boy," said his aunt calmly; "she has no idea of
that kind, you may be sure."

"Well, take my word for it, she has something out of the way in her
head. She's not often very particular to know the meaning of a word;