he
whole time," said Toddie, "when it makes poor old Uncle Harry supper so.
G'way."

Mrs. Burton's lord and master was not in too much pain to shake
considerably with silent laughter over this unexpected rebuke, and the
lady herself was too thoroughly startled to devise an appropriate
retort; so the boys amused themselves by a general exploration of the
chamber, not omitting even the pockets of their uncle's clothing. This
work completed, to the full extent of their ability, the boys demanded
breakfast.

"Breakfast won't be ready until eight o'clock," said Mrs. Burton, "and
it is now only six. If you little boys don't want to feel dreadfully
hungry, you had better go back to bed, and lie as quiet as possible."

"Is that the way not to be hungry?" asked Toddie, with wide-open eyes,
which always accompany the receptive mind.

"Certainly," said Mrs. Burton. "If you run about, you agitate your
stomachs, and that makes them restless, and so you feel hungry."

"Gwacious!" said Toddie. "What lots of fings little boys has got to lyne
(learn), hazn't they? Come on, Budgie--let's go put our tummuks to bed,
an' keep 'em from gettin' ajjerytated."

"All right," said Budge. "But say, Aunt Alice, don't you s'pose our
stomachs would be sleepier an' not so restless if there was some
crackers or bread an' butter in 'em?"

"There's no one down-stairs to get you any," said Mrs. Burton.

"Oh," said Budge, "_we_ can find them. We know where everything is in
the pantries and store-room."

"_I_ wish _I_ were so smart," sighed Mrs Burton. "Go along--get what you
want--but don't come back to this room again. And don't let me find
anything in disorder down-stairs, or I shall never trust you in my
kitchen again."

Away flew the children, but their disappearance only made room for a new
torment, for Mr. Burton stopped in the middle of the operation of
shaving himself, and remarked:

"I've been longing for Sunday to come, for your sake, my dear. The boys,
as you have frequently observed, have very strange notions about holy
things; but they are also, by nature, quite religious and spiritually
minded. _You_ are not only this latter, but you are free from strange
doctrines and the traditions of men. The mystical influences of the day
will make themselves felt upon those innocent little hearts, and you
will have the opportunity to correct wrong teachings and instil new
sentiments and truths."

Mr. Burton's voice had grown a little shak