tippet caught on the rough edge of the railing, and held me just a
minute, but that minute saved me, for in some way, I hardly know how,
I swung in and dropped safely on the steps just under 'Dud.' Then I
hurried into one of those queer little places in the wall, and hid,
for I was angry, and meant to give him a good fright; and as I
happened to have a little book in my pocket, I began to read, and got
so interested that I forgot everything till it began to grow dark.
Then I hurried down, wondering that everything was so still. But when
I saw 'Dud,'" said he, turning with an affectionate glance to his
cousin, "I was frightened, for he was so changed I hardly knew him,
and I was afraid he was dying. So I ran to him, and took him right in
my arms, and called him every dear name I could think of; but he only
stared at me, with the biggest, wildest eyes, you ever saw. 'Dud,'
said I, '_dear_ fellow, what _is_ the matter, don't you know me?'
Then all of a sudden he burst out crying. O girls! you never cried
like that, and I hope you never will,--great big sobs, and I helped
him. Then he flung his arms tight around my neck, and kissed me for
the first time in his life--kissed me over and over, my cheeks and my
hair and my hands, and then he laughed, and right in the midst cried
as if his heart would break, and I began to understand that poor 'Dud'
thought he had killed me. No one knows how long we laughed and cried,
and kissed each other, but when we grew a little calmer we went back
into the old castle, and on the very steps where we had our quarrel,
we knelt down, holding each other's hands, and promised always to love
each other, and try to keep down our wicked tempers."

"And we asked some one to help us to keep the resolution," said
Dudley, gently.

"Well, how is it!" said little Prue with a bewildered air; "was it
you and '_Dud_' that went and knelt on the steps to pray?"

"Yes, 'Dud' and I."

"Well then, what became of that other wicked boy that wasn't _Dudley
Wylde_ at all?"

Another shout covered poor Prue with confusion, as Bernard answered,--

"Would you believe it, you dear little Prue, we have never seen
anything of him from that day to this?"

GEORGE AND ALICK.

"Well, you know, Annie, it is all very well to try to be kind to and
help nice people--people whom you like. It is the nicest thing in the
world to help you, Annie, because you are always so good, and kind,
and gentle. But there are peo