e face of the early risers. He stamps
about the ground in the dark night, and the worm, being naturally a
fool, as even the proverb demonstrates, comes up to investigate, and is
at once cured of early rising for ever. The kiwi, having no wings
(unless you count a bit of cartilage an inch or so long, buried under
the down), has the appearance of running about with his hands in his
pockets because of the cold. And being covered with something more like
hair than feathers, is a deal more like a big rat than a bird of any
sort. Indeed, I don't believe the kiwi himself has altogether made up
his mind which to be. Before he decides he will probably become extinct.
Any glimpse his friends have of him here is short. Suddenly brought out
into the day, he stands for a moment, and blinks; then he puts his beak
up and his legs apart, and there is a black streak and a heap of straw
where it vanishes.

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

_One and Two._

BY WALTER BESANT.

I.

"Nell!" cried the boy, jumping about, unable to stand still for
excitement. "It is splendid! He has told me such things as I never
dreamed. Oh! splendid things! Wonderful things!"

"Tell me, Will."

"I am ashamed. Well, then, he says--he says"--the boy's face became
crimson--"he says that I can become whatever I please, if I please. It
is all in me--all--all! If I want to be a statesman--I may. If I want to
become a judge--I may. If I should like to be a bishop--I may. If a
great scholar--a great writer--I may. All, he says, is possible for me,
if I choose to work--all--if I choose to work. Oh! Nell--isn't it--isn't
it wonderful?" He dropped his voice, and his eyes glistened--his large
dreamy eyes--and his cheeks glowed. "If I choose to work. As if I should
not choose to work! Only those fellows who have got no such glorious
prospects are lazy. Work? Why, I am mad to work. I grudge every hour.
Work? You shall see how I will work!"

[Illustration: "IT IS SPLENDID!"]

He was a lad of seventeen, handsome, tall and straight; his eyes were
full and limpid; his face was a long oval, his mouth delicate and fine,
but perhaps not quite so firm as might have been desired. At this moment
he had just held a conference with his private tutor. It took the form
of a remonstrance and an explanation. The remonstrance pointed out that
his work was desultory and liable to be interrupted at any moment, for
any caprice: that steady grind was incom