B

UT who shall describe the distress of the

next day, when the weather proved wet! We would almost say that Mr. Lawrence was the most disappointed of all; but perhaps his amusement at his own eagerness, and his hearty ridicule of himself, helped his companions to bear their grievous disappointment. Miss Lawrence, too, was much amused. She had never seen her brother in the least like this. He had always, apparently, lived patiently and contentedly on from day to day, with no active interests to disturb him; and here he was, as bad as any boy, exciting himself over this expedition. He had even insisted on taking tea on the island; and now this weather had stopped it all.

'Boys!' he exclaimed, what are we to do? I

feel too stupid to draw. I tell you what,-one of you shall read me out some story, and we will each draw a picture of it as we like, and then show our pictures to each other. Shall we? We can't sit still, looking at the rain; it really is too silly.'

The boys laughed, and brought their favourite Froissart. Out of it they read an animated description of a tournament, and then, shutting the book, they attempted to sketch the scene. Richard succeeded best of the boys. His sketch was full of spirit. Edward's knights and horses were all deformed; whilst Tommy's bore a strong resemblance to wooden toys, without even equalling these in beauty or symmetry. Mr. Lawrence made an extremely pretty picture, which he gave to Richard, as a reward for the latter's spirited sketch. And so the morning passed.

The afternoon cleared, but not enough to admit of their expedition. The boys still wondered what to do; until at length Dick hit upon the happy idea, that they would make some flags to commemorate their uncle's advent on the island! If they might only have some paste, and calico, coloured and white, in their own room, they would make such beauties! Miss Lawrence was only too happy to

get them thus away from her brother, and so to keep him quiet. She sent for the housekeeper, who readily volunteered to supply the young gentlemen with all they could need, and carried them off with her to inspect her stores. A large square of white calico was to make Dick's flag, which was to bear a red cross, with lions, bears, tigers, and no one can say what else. Tommy chose a blue flag, with gaycoloured chintz flowers and figures to be pasted on it. Edward selected a red square, of which he said he should make a Union Jack. This was a glorious thought of Dick's; it provided them with animated amusement for all the rest of the afternoon, and for the next morning too, since this again, unfortunately, proved too wet to allow of Mr. Lawrence leaving the mainland.

The housekeeper was obliged to assist the boys a little. Their devices were very difficult to shape; or, when shaped and cut out, to paste on straight. Then, one side of the flag being trimmed, it became very desirable to trim the reverse side alike, otherwise the devices showed very poorly through. Edward was astonished to find his Union Jack puzzle him extremely. He could not remember what it was like, until he found one in a picture.

This difficulty removed, the stripes would not lie straight; they did try his patience sorely, but he succeeded fairly at last.

Tom began by edging his with a dark border. He then scattered little bunches of flowers all about, straight or crookedly, upright or topsy-turvy, as they would fit in, with heads and tails of birds, heads of men, etc. etc., dotted in as he could. His was a mightily gay flag, but he could attempt no second face-it was not possible to copy such a rigmarole. Dick's flag was adorned with wild beasts, with a crown in the centre of the cross. A lion rampant, with a tasselled tail; a bear copied out of some natural history; three tigers, tumbling one over another; and a stag regardant, occupied its four quarters; which he succeeded in repeating backwards on the opposite side.

These flags, after pasting, had to dry; and their owners used the interval to get themselves staves whereon to nail them. These staves required cutting and shaping; but by the time the weather cleared, and it was pronounced safe for Mr. Lawrence to make his grand attempt, the flags were done, and stuck in their respective boats, ready to do full honour to the occasion. The boys adorned

themselves also with sashes and belts, with cockades and feathers in their caps, and started in ample time to get everything in order before their aunt and Sober-grey, with the chair containing its precious occupant, should make their appearance on the wharf. They had been to the island in the morning to clear away any rummage that the rain had caused. Poor Richard groaned over his little success; but he also prepared with heartiness quite equal to his brothers, to welcome their uncle and aunt on the island.

It was on Saturday afternoon the 5th of June, nearly a month since the news of her approaching fate had so dismayed Miss Lawrence, that she accompanied her brother on this memorable expedition to the island. They left the house at 2.30 in the afternoon; and, it having been arranged that they should drink tea on the island, they carried with them provision and wraps enough for a week. Such an event had not occurred for forty years, or thereabouts, that these two sober people should quit their home for the very questionable comforts of a water excursion and a picnic! It had been a great question with Miss Lawrence what she should wear: she feared mud or dust, heat or cold; she was