ney ornaments.

"Get down, sir! get down!" cried the doctor. "I mean, get up."

"It don't hurt," cried the boy, "stand on my head longer than you will
for a penny."

"Will you get up, sir!"

The boy let his feet go down into their normal position upon the carpet,
and rose up with his handsome young face flushed, and a look of proud
delight in his eyes.

"I can walk on my hands ever so far," he shouted boisterously.

"No, no; stop!"

"You look, miss, and see me run like a tomcat."

Before he could be stopped, he was down on all-fours running, with
wonderful agility, in and out among the chairs, and over the hearthrug.

"That's what I do to make the boys laugh, when we go to bed. I can go
all along the dormitory, and jump from one bed to the other. Where's
the dormitory? I'll show you."

"No, no; stop!" cried the doctor, and he caught hold of the boy by the
collar. "Confound you, sir: are you full of quicksilver!"

"No. It's skilly," said the boy, "and I ain't full now I'm ever so
hungry."

The doctor held him tightly, for he was just off again.

Helen Grayson tried to look serious, but was compelled to hold her
handkerchief before her mouth, and hide her face; but her eyes twinkled
with mirth, as her father turned towards her, and sat rubbing his stiff
grey hair.

The doctor's plan of bringing up a boy chosen from the workhouse had
certainly failed, she thought, so far as this lad was concerned; and as
the little prisoner stood tightly held, but making all the use he could
of his eyes, he said, pointing to a glass shade over a group of wax
fruit--

"Is them good to eat!"

"No," said Helen, smiling.

"I say, do you have skilly for breakfast!"

"I do not know what skilly is," replied Helen.

"Then, I'll tell you. It's horrid. They beats up pailfuls of oatmeal
in a copper, and ladles it out. But it's better than nothing."

"Ahem!" coughed the doctor, who was thinking deeply.

The boy glanced at him sharply, and then turned again to Helen--

"You mustn't ask for anything to eat at the House if you're ever so
hungry."

"Are you hungry?" said Helen.

"Just!"

"Would you like a piece of cake!"

"Piece o' cake? Please. Here, let go."

He shook himself free from the doctor and ran to Helen.

"Sit down on that cushion, and I'll ring for some."

"What, have you got a big bell here? Let me pull it, will you?"

"It is not a big bell, but you may pull it," said Helen, crossing to the