than he had been when on the same stairs five minutes before. He knocked at his mother's door. "Coming, papa," she answered.

"It's I, Will; mother," he began, opening the door, "will you advance me two weekly pays ?"

Mrs. W Wynne looked surprised a moment at his bluntness, but answered then," Yes, there is my purse, you may take two shillings."

He did so,- "Thank you, mother," and away he went. But such trust in her sons was repaid by Paul and Will tenfold into her own bosom even in this life; and Hargrave or David, perhaps even Gordon, would have scorned to abuse it by making an ill use of such unquestioned advances, such full trust in their honour.

Breakfast went on as usual, Mr. Wynne and Paul started for town before it was well over, and Will almost as quickly down the marshes. Mrs. Wynne, who happened to see him slip out, wondered where he was off in such a hurry, but, if he did not tell her, would never have noticed his so doing even to himself.

St. John soon began to find the house very dull without him, Hargrave and he did not exactly suit one another, besides practising a glee in which he could never take public part for months yet, as he was to return to Woolwich that afternoon, was most stupid work, and so he betook himself to his old lolling place under the catalpa.

Meanwhile, Will, who upon his return, when his hand was on Mr. Dobbs' bell, had on second thoughts turned home to smarten himself a little before going to call on Mr. Dobbs, had effected his purpose, and passed through the hall with the brightest happiest step in the world. He ran down the steps, stopped for a minute at the gate to pick up from under the ivy his pot of precious tulips, carried them so that no one from home windows could see what he was holding, ran up Mr. Dobbs's steps, and knocked.

Martha opened the door neat and trim, "Is Mrs.

Dobbs at home ?" Will asked, beginning to feel very hot and shy.

"Yes, sir, will you walk in ?"

"No thank you," answered the boy, his courage suddenly failing, "will you give these flowers to Mrs. Dobbs, with my-" Will could not find a suitable word, "and tell her I don't want any thanks, and hope she won't ever mention it."

Off he ran, whilst Martha carried in the pot of glorious tulips, and delivered the message faithfully to Mrs. Dobbs, who was looking so pretty an old lady in her black silk and lavender ribbons, that Martha felt quite sorry that Master Wynne had not seen her.

St. John left Fordham immediately after the early dinner, which was indeed rather hastened on his account. "Now, St. John," said Isabella, as the cadet carelessly shook her hand at parting, "do write to me on Thursday, like a good boy; you know it is my birthday."

"Oh, is it? I thought it was somewhere at Christmas, good-bye, I can't promise-O, I've forgotten my watch," and up stairs he dashed for it.

One or two similar delays had already taken place, and Mrs. Wynne warned Will, who was going with him as far as the station, that they had not a minute to lose. And in point of fact, the two boys reached the top of the station steps just as the train started for London. "Wheugh," whistled St. John, "what's to be done now? Black hole and no mistake, at this rate,-when's the next train ?"

"Not till half-past four, this is such a little station, but yes, if we pushed on as hard as we could to Stratford we might catch an earlier one there."

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"All right," and on they trudged. Thus Will came in after a second walk of eight miles not a little tired. Why, my poor boy, where have you been ?" asked Mrs. Wynne, as he turned into the parlour, hot, dusty, and weary.

"To Stratford, we were too late for the train here."

"How tired you must be! come and sit down; so you saw him off safe at last ?”

'Yes," and Will joined in his mother's smile.

"Well, you have done your duty to him to the last, but I doubt if we can have him here at Midsummer, papa does not like him at all. Poor fellow, it is a sad pity that he lost his own father so early."

'O, but mother, it is only mothers that signify. I mean-" Will hesitated in some confusion, " you know one can't help caring so much more for one's mother than—”

"I hope not, my dear boy," said Mrs. Wynne, a little gravely.

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O, mother, you must not think it's that. Papa could not break his word, you know, and I deserved it, besides he spoke so kindly about it all, this morning.'

"Well, we won't talk of yesterday any more; don't think you vexed me. I am so glad that you speak out freely to myself; and perhaps till children grow up into men and women, the mother must have the first place, particularly with sons."

"Yes, mother, I am sure it must be so, it seems to come so naturally. One can tell a mother so many things one could no one else."

"I should hope so, my dear boy."

Will sat silent a minute,

Mother, you seem kinder to me than ever," he said at length abruptly, "in spite of Gordon and all."

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Somebody, I think, helped Gordon with his lessons all last week, and took him out fishing on Wednesday afternoon when he had meant to cricket," said Mrs. Wynne demurely.

Will laughed," and grumbled terribly about it too. Mother, I must tell you something, because it has made me so much happier. I overheard Mrs. Dobbs asking about a tulip that got broken on Saturday, and do you know, I could get one just like it at Dunscombe's, just the very same kind he said as he had sold to Mr. Dobbs last week, wasn't it lucky ?"

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Very," his mother answered heartily.

"He has such beauties, I did so long to bring you some, mother, only I couldn't afford it, you know." I am very glad you did not, my boy, I would much rather you should bring me such little confidences as

these."

Will smiled, but looked rather abashed, "I did not mean to tell any one, you won't tell, mother ?"

"Oh dear no, ah! there's the pony carriage for me, you must be too tired to care to come ?"

"Yes, I do think I am; unless I could drive and sit with you ?" he cried, starting up.

"No, Isabella has promised to do that, poor little thing, she is so dull without St. John,-not that I could ever see they were much together," and off Mrs. Wynne went.

Will sauntered into the garden, and spent the little remainder of the afternoon half-asleep over a book upon the lawn, whilst Isabella enjoyed her drive with. her aunt not a little; and Mrs. Wynne was pleased to prove true her expectation of finding good sense and good principle, both struck deep beneath her young cousin's upper ceaseless current of good humour.

The music was going on as usual after the late tea, when David, who had been out into the town for the purchase of some carpentering tool, the aim of his holidays being the formation of a frigate, came into the drawing-room with a note for his father-"Tell the messenger to wait," said Mr. Wynne, as he finished it.

"Wait! he is gone, father," answered David.

"Gone! who took the note in ?" pursued Mr. Wynne, his hand upon the bell, "I have told Louisa again and again always to tell-"

"I took it from him, papa," answered David, in his monotonous sullen tone, "I met him on the steps." "How very stupid not to tell him to wait, to see if there were an answer; well, it is too late to send one of the maids, but it is excessively tiresome;" here

Q

David, finding all blame over, retreated to the schoolroom, of course James is gone long ago ?" said Mr. Wynne, turning to his wife.

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Yes, I am afraid he is, but—”

"I, mother," began Paul, rising.

"No, no, Paul," cried Will, " let me take it, papa." "It is so late, half-past nine now, and old Mr. Fisher is a mile off nearly, yet he wants to know about the sanitary meeting before going to town tomorrow."

"Never mind, I can go quite well, papa.'

'Well, I should be glad for my answer to go tonight," and Mr. Wynne accepted the paper and ink which Barbara put before him and wrote his note. Will started off with it, but could not be back by prayer time. After prayers all, except Mr. Wynne, his wife, and Paul, went up to bed. Paul sat by the table reading, as he usually did now, for an hour or so after the house was quiet. Mr. Wynne and his wife rested over the fire, talking.

"Oh, Frank," began his wife, "do you know I find that Thursday is Isabella's birthday; I was thinking if we could not make some expedition to celebrate it. If we all went in a body to the Crystal Palace, could you come down early in the afternoon and join us ?"

"Oh, my dear, I don't know, Thursday is a busy day-but by all means go yourselves."

"I think Elizabeth and Laura would enjoy it as much as Isabella, and perhaps the boys too, but they can do as they like."

"But you will want some one to escort you home ?" Oh, we shall not be very late, still, if

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we do, I will take Will.”

Mr. Wynne smiled.

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Now, what ?" asked his wife.

Why not Hargrave ?"

"Because, poor boy, he would hate it so."

"Well, won't Will hate it more ?"

you think