ld,
and George looked not a little foolish as he began his walk home by the
side of his father.

'I thought you had been remaining quietly at home, George,' said Mrs.
Danvers.

'And certainly, if you had been out,' added Mr. Danvers, 'you had no
business to have been riding that donkey. You must have heard me say
that it was not fit to be ridden, for it is always playing tricks of
some sort. And you may be very thankful that you did not get either a
broken limb or a severe blow on your head.'

George made no reply, but he burst into tears, for his ill-humour had
now entirely given way to sorrow; and he continued crying as he walked
by the side of his father.

'I am afraid you have too much indulgence,' said Mr. Danvers, 'and too
much liberty in disposing of your time; you are not the happier for it,
you see. When left to yourself to amuse yourself as you please the whole
day, you almost constantly get into some trouble or other before the day
is over. In future I shall take care that your time is better employed
than in riding races with butchers' boys, and trying to tame
incorrigible donkeys.'

Here George tried to put his father right as to his riding with the
butcher's boy being entirely accidental; but his sobs prevented his
speaking articulately, and they had nearly arrived at home before Mr.
and Mrs. Danvers could exactly understand how the accident had happened.

'And how came Fletcher by his black eye?' said Mr. Danvers.

'Oh, that was done in a passion,' replied George. 'I was tired before I
began to play, and I did not like to be beat by a boy so near my own
size.'

'And how would you have felt,' said Mr. Danvers, 'had you deprived your
companion of the sight of his eye, which was very near being the case?
Accidents of this sort have sometimes happened from cricket-balls; but
this, instead of accidental, would have been the consequence of pettish
ill-humour. I shall allow no more cricket for some days; indeed, I fear
it will be some days before Fletcher will be well enough to play; and
certainly I shall allow no more whole days of play.'

'I wish you would not, father,' said George, 'for they always end
unhappily; and you have not heard all the unhappiness of this.'

George was endeavouring to commence his relation of the broken vase,
when the lads from the cricket-field, who had just finished their game,
approached to bid Mr. and Mrs. Danvers a good-morning, and inquire of
their young companion w