the station_"']

'I took the old fellow to the station,' he said, 'and as we went along I
told him all about the stationmaster's family, and how I had seen the
porter kissing our housemaid, and what a nice fellow he was, with no
airs or affectation about him, and anything I thought would be of
interest; but he didn't seem to pay much attention, but walked along
puffing his cigar, and once I thought--I'm not certain, but I
_thought_--I heard him say, "Well, thank God, that's over!" When we got
to the station he stopped suddenly, and said, "Hold on a minute!" Then
he shoved these into my hand in a frightened sort of way, and said,
"Look here, youngster! These are for you and the other kids. Buy what
you like--make little beasts of yourselves--only don't tell the old
people, mind! Now cut away home!" So I cut.'

A solemn hush fell on the assembly, broken first by the small Charlotte.
'I didn't know,' she observed dreamily, 'that there were such good men
anywhere in the world. I hope he'll die to-night, for then he'll go
straight to heaven!' But the repentant Selina bewailed herself with
tears and sobs, refusing to be comforted; for that in her haste she had
called this white-souled relative a beast.

'I'll tell you what we'll do,' said Edward, the master-mind, rising--as
he always did--to the situation: 'We'll christen the piebald pig after
him--the one that hasn't got a name yet. And that'll show we're sorry
for our mistake!'

'I--I christened that pig this morning,' Harold guiltily confessed; 'I
christened it after the curate. I'm very sorry--but he came and bowled
to me last night, after you others had all been sent to bed early--and
somehow I felt I _had_ to do it!'

'Oh, but that doesn't count,' said Edward hastily; 'because we weren't
all there. We'll take that christening off, and call it Uncle William.
And you can save up the curate for the next litter!'

And the motion being agreed to without a division, the House went into
Committee of Supply.

[Illustration]

ALARUMS AND EXCURSIONS

'LET'S pretend,' suggested Harold, 'that we're Cavaliers and Roundheads;
and _you_ be a Roundhead!'

'O bother,' I replied drowsily, 'we pretended that yesterday; and it's
not my turn to be a Roundhead, anyhow.' The fact is, I was lazy, and the
call to arms fell on indifferent ears. We three younger ones were
stretched at length in the orchard. The sun was hot, the season merry
June, and never (I thought) had the