THE THREE BOYS. H! sister!' observed Mr. Lawrence anxiously, as a lady entered the breakfast room at The Refuge one lovely May morning. Here's serious news! Robert is ordered abroad again, quite suddenly. Of course his wife goes with him, and they take the two little girls. But the three boys must come here, if we can take them in!' 'Three boys-come here-dreadful, brother!' exclaimed Miss Mary in consternation. 'We will refuse, if we can, sister. But read this A letter. I do not see how it is possible. Robert only asks it until after the midsummer holidays,— that will be until the beginning of August, to be sure. But now it is May 'Only the 6th, brother. What can we possibly do with three boys? It is dreadful, brother!' 'Read the letter, and see what answer we are to make,' replied Mr. Lawrence, as he reached out his hand to give it to her. The action seemed to be accompanied with pain, for a pang crossed his brow; a sight which at once recalled Miss Lawrence to herself, and caused her to hurry round the table to his chair. There, seating herself on the corner of a couch, she perused the boldly written letter, which he gave her. Mr. Lawrence leant back in his wheeled chair, partly occupied in painful, puzzling thought, partly watching the effect her perusal was producing on his sister. She finished at length, and laying the letter on her lap, she said, 'The order seems a very sudden one. Of course Robert cannot refuse · to go 'Nor can we wonder that Jane and the girls accompany him.' No! But those boys: would no school take them |