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of all the party who were able to jump three benches placed side by side, and consequently received each a prize of equal value.

I was just taking a last final jump by way of amusement when, to my horror, I saw aunt and two ladies looking in through the gate, and beckoning to us for the key. As I heard afterwards the two ladies were old friends of my father's, and having heard that we were all in the square, expressed a wish to go and see us there, instead of our being sent for to the house. A fit of desperation came over me, and turning round I took a short run, and cleared the three benches again in very beautiful style, just as they

came up.

Aunt looked unutterable things, but I heard her saying sweetly, "I ought to have prepared you for thorough

country children, Mrs Lester, I am afraid you will be quite shocked at such little rustics."

Mrs Lester certainly did look shocked, whilst I, thoroughly enjoying Aunt Mildred's discomfiture, said, "You are just in time for the quarter mile race, will you take a seat in the

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grand stand and see it?" here I pointed to one of the summerhouses," or, if you prefer it, you can inspect the prizes in the other."

I spoke in a rough boyish way, which was enough for aunt. Her visitors were hastily hurried away, and very soon a message was sent to us to come in.

Nothing, however, was said upon the subject. I think she was beginning to find that I was rather too much for her, and that she gained nothing by a wordy discussion, in which I usually came off victorious.

She manoeuvred instead that for the next few days we did not play in the square; but sent us for walks with mademoiselle, under the excuse that it was good for us to practise our French.

Oh, my dear Aunt Mildred, did you in your wildest dreams imagine that we ever spoke a word that was not English? That is, the two younger ones and I. Dora did make some feeble attempts, for which we made her feel like a traitor to us.

One afternoon when Dora and I had gone, sorely against our will, for a drive with Aunt Mildred, Bernard and Maude started for a walk with mademoiselle.

Which of the three disliked it the most I really cannot tell you, and mademoiselle especially dreaded these walks when Dora was not present, for she did occasionally keep the little ones in check, whereas I never.

On the day in question, Maude and Bernard each appeared with an immense wooden hoop, treasures which had come from Beachmount with the rest of the luggage.

Aunt was already gone so there was no one to appeal to, and poor mademoiselle could only look at the hoops in horror.

"Mais you vill not, dat is, c'est impossible for them great things to walk wid us."

"No, they are not going to walk," said Maude, "they are going to run; come on Bernard," and away went the two children bowling their hoops, poor mademoiselle running

after them, that is as fast as she could patter along in her high-heeled boots.

Aunt had given her the strictest orders never by any chance to let the children out of her sight. She was very conscientious; what was she to do. The children raced on, mademoiselle raced after them, till she arrived breathless and panting in the Park. Then where were the children ; no trace of them could be seen anywhere.

Mademoiselle sank down upon a seat in despair till she had recovered her breath, when she heard a loud whoop from behind the trees, and out rushed the children full of delight to think how they had terrified her.

Not a moment did they stay however. Off they went again, off went poor mademoiselle after them, till she was quite tired out; and Bernard and Maude having also exhausted their fun, sat down on a seat and allowed her to come up to them.

Mademoiselle had really grown desperate by this time, even a worm will turn at last, and no sooner had they sat down when she seized the two hoops, and utterly refused to let them have them again.

This was somewhat more than the children had bargained for, and they set their wits to work to think how they could recover their property in such a way that mademoiselle would be afraid to tell tales of them.

"I know," said Maude at last, and a whispered conversation took place amid shouts of laughter.

In the meantime they all walked on together, mademoiselle carrying the two large muddy hoops, which, though by no means pleasant, was better than running after them.

Presently, on the other side of the way, they saw a very tall policeman. This was just what Maude and Bernard were watching for.

Mademoiselle, as they knew, could not bear crossings, so they hastily left her side and rushed across before she could stop them.

The policeman, though so tall and dignified, had a very

good-natured face, and Maude was not a bit afraid as she went up to him.

"Please, Mr Policeman, may we bowl our hoops here?" "Certainly," he replied politely, looking down from the height of about six feet two upon the bright rosy little face turned up to him.

“Well, then,” said Maude, "we have got a nasty little French governess over the other side, and she has taken away our hoops. I wish you would make her give them back to us; you could tell her that you will take her up if she does not."

"With great pleasure," said the policeman, putting on his most severe look, and striding across the road with them.

"Why, what's the meaning of this?" he said sternly, coming up to mademoiselle. "This young lady and gentleman must have their hoops directly."

"Oh certainly, certainly," said mademoiselle, growing very red and looking dreadfully frightened.

"Come, give them to them at once," he continued; "think of taking away children's hoops, why it's quite a thing that a person might be taken up for.”

Poor mademoiselle, she could not understand a great deal of English, but she understood this, and the policeman's looks and gestures told her a good deal.

"Oh I should wish dem to have dem, I should wish it ; here take dese big hoops and dey shall walk or was it run wid us all de rest of de way."

Maude and Bernard triumphantly resumed their hoops, and nodded a smile of thanks to the policeman. However, they were merciful to mademoiselle, and did not give her such a race on their way home. They thought though that they would give her a caution not to tell tales or get them into any trouble with Aunt Mildred.

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"You must not say a word about this," said Maude, as they turned into the square.

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No," said Bernard; "if you tell anybody, we shall tell

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