So the three went in-to the hall, and there they found two men with some large thing in their arms that was hid by a great piece of cloth. It was the shape of a large square box.

"Where are we to put it?" said the men. "Bring it in here, and let us find out what in the world it is," said Sir Charles.

So the men brought it in and put it on the floor, and the girls took off the cloth, which was sewn on quite tight.

When they had un-done the cloth, what do you think they found?

Why, the great big dolls' house it-self, with a large card in front, on which was put, “For Fan-Nan, from an old play-mate."

The twins were wild with joy, and gave such laughs and shouts, and claps, that nurse came to see what all the noise meant.

"Who can have sent it? where did it come from?" cried Fan.

"I know," said Nan, "it was dear kind Sir

Charles him-self, no one else calls us FanNan," and she ran up to Sir Charles who stood by, with a kind bright smile on his face, and gave him a great hug, and then Fan did the same.

"Well, my dears," said he, "I have to go to a place, a long, long way off, next week, and I thought I would like to give you some thing that would make you think of your poor old play-mate some times, and I saw how you had set your young hearts in this, so I bought it for you; though I was glad to see that dear NanFan could give up her great wish to help a poor child. Now my pets, I hope when you play with your dolls' house, you will think of your old friend Sir Charles; and ask God to take care of him in the far off land when you say your prayers at night. God bless you, my dears. I must go now."

Then he gave them each one more kiss, and was gone, and they saw his kind face

no more.

CHAPTER XVII.

THE LAST DAY AT THE SEA SIDE.

O the month at

the sea

side came

to an end

at last,

and Aunt

Bell and

her young

tribe had

to pack

up and

go home,

back to

their own house, in the long street in town.

"It will be nice to be at home once more,"

said Loo; "but how I wish we could live at the sea side all the year round.”

"It would be no treat then," said wise Fred; "now it is a great treat to come and stay at the sea, and do just what we like all the time."

By this time they were not thin and pale as when they left home, but they all had fine fat red cheeks; the sea air had done them so much good.

On the last day of all, John went with them for a walk, to take a last look at the place where they had had so much fun.

First they went on the top of the cliffs, to say good bye to the fields and trees: by this time the corn was all cut, and the fields had a bare look.

"I must get a gun and shoot when you are gone," said John. "Do you see the brown hare there? How fast it runs. It is time to shoot the hares now, and there are some birds too. It will cheer me up to shoot when you are gone, for I can tell you that I shall miss all you young scamps.'

When they had been a good way on the top of the cliffs, they came down some steep steps to the beach, so that they might walk home by the sea, and pick up a few more shells, and bits of sea weed to take home with them. And then they had to say good bye to the boat-men, for Fred and Tom had been out to fish with John five or six times, and the boys and the two boat-men were quite good friends.

"We shall look out for you next year, young sirs," said the men; "you must be sure to come and catch some more fish."

"I do hope we shall," said Fred. "You may be sure we will come if aunt will bring

us."

Then the men shook the boys' small hands in their great brown rough ones, and said, Good bye-the Lord bless you!"

Then John took them for one last walk through the town, and he was so kind that he would buy each one a keep-sake.