'No, Dick, my man! Castles and make-believe chargers are yours, are they not?' said his uncle, but so good-temperedly that, instead of taking fire, Dick came up to his chair, asking about the castle.

The lads 'retired to rest' this night at eight, for the housekeeper had given them a hint that she thought her master and mistress would be glad of the hour till nine to themselves. What possible inducement could persuade two grown-up, free people to go to bed before ten, the boys could not understand. But as their candle was not put out until half-past nine, they did not at all object to spending that hour and a half in their bed-room and night shirts; whilst to Mr. and Miss Lawrence the undisturbed evening was invaluable. It was their time for quiet talk and reading, and they had much missed it. This was the end of the first wet day at The Refuge. Not a bad day at all to young or old, thanks to the kind thought of each for all.

HE next day proved fine. Full of life and joy, the boys received their luncheon in

the covered basket, given to them to hold it-enough bread and cheese to satisfy as many ploughmen, and a large bottle of milk. They provided themselves also with an old pocket-book for the 'working-drawings' (though Edward made an awfully long face at the idea of his ever effecting any), a foot-rule to measure with, and a tape. These things they packed up with their lunch, and away they went. Dick carried the basket, for the very good reason that he had lost his patience, and set off before the others-to make up for which impropriety, he imposed the burden of the basket upon himself. They reached the yard together, for the others ran after him.

'Can you come, Ralph ?'

'No, master, that I can't,' responded he; 'for the black cow has broken down the gate into the wheat, and she will trample it all down, so I must stay and mind it.'

'The cow ought to have known better!' exclaimed the boys. 'When can you come then, Ralph ?'

'I will work as fast as I can; but I can't tell, masters.'

'We will leave the tub for you, though; I mean Mr. Talbot's tub. We shall want the barge ourselves.'

And the boys hurried on. They unfastened their respective tubs and got into them; but it was no easy matter to get hold of the barge, nor to attach it to themselves. Not one of the three could undertake to tow it alone, and not one of the three could exactly get hold of it either! It bumped about in an unwieldy fashion; also the tubs would slip away, as their inmates tried to reach their unshapely charge. At length the rope was caught by Tommy, who shouted out the fact in great joy. He was bidden to tie it to the tail of his tub, an order which he obeyed, and began rowing away. But, alas! the

little man's strength could not force on boat and barge too. He got very red and very hot. He toiled and toiled; but the prospect was before them of spending the day on the water, unless the others could tackle on' as well. Dick at last shoved his boat close, and managed to attach two ropes, one of which he threw across to Edward, the other he kept for himself. But oh!-but oh! the oars, the oars, how they did entangle and hinder their rowers, as the three boats, dragged together by the weight behind, did nothing but bump and bother each other. The boys expended much scolding and loud talk upon each other and their misfortunes, and issued from the yard enclosures a very confused and noisy mass, to Ralph's great amusement.

'Scull, young masters, scull!' shouted he.

'Oh, I know!' exclaimed Edward, as the boys paused puzzled. 'I know! turns backward, and sway sideways, so!' and he suited the action to the word. This was a great improvement. The single oar, thus confined to the stern of each boat, could not reach its neighbour oars, and the boats progressed with tolerable rapidity.

But as soon as the boys had landed they held an impromptu conference, to determine on the best

mode of lugging along their square barge; and the conclusion was, that they tied the ropes together in one length, and determined to pull this, one after the other, according to age,-Edward first, then Richard, then Tommy. By this arrangement both oars could be used, and no fouling was possible. This settled, and their boats moored, they started for their work. Now the question arose, What were they going to do? Work together or work apart? Do one thing at once, or all things at the same time? They decided on the latter. Dick could not keep away from his castle; Edward was longing to demolish his arbour; and Tommy to use the small spade that his aunt had discovered and given him. The only question was, whether Fanny's grave ought not to be cleared first. Dick said no, it had waited fifty years, and might wait one day more; but both Edward and Tom felt, as it were, bound in honour to look after it first, and, being the majority, they gained their point. To the grave they therefore went. Edward had a hook, Tommy a pair of monstrous old scissors, a sort of linen scissors, lent him by the housekeeper; Richard a crow-bar, and a hatchet, and a penknife, about equally efficient instruments for the work in hand!