a large tube, containing two smaller ones, to pass through the opening. This tube the animal can draw into the shell at pleasure; but generally when the creature buries itself in the sand it allows its tube just to reach the surface in order that it may take its food by means of the small tubes within the large one. In some cases the animal buries itself so deeply in the sand that it is obliged to elongate its tube to an extraordinary length, in order to make it reach the surface; but in other cases the tube is very short. The scientific name of this shell is Mya; and the animal belonging to it is eaten in some parts of the world as an article of food."

Agnes now began to gather sea-weed and pebbles, and she had soon collected a large quantity of both to put in her basket, which she had placed on the beach while she filled it; this she did most effectively, for several times when it appeared full she contrived by dint of shaking and pressing to make it hold a little more. At last, however, she seemed satisfied that her basket was full, and she attempted to lift it up and carry it after her mamma, who had now turned, and was walking slowly back towards the village. Mrs. Merton was absorbed in thought, and

as her back was turned towards Agnes, she was quite unconscious of the trouble of the little girl, who was trying in vain with all the strength she could muster to raise the basket. But all her efforts were in vain, the basket was far too heavy for her; and after a powerful but useless struggle, fearing that her mamma would leave her behind, as she had already lost sight of her behind one of the projecting cliffs, poor Agnes uttered a cry so full of trouble and almost despair that her mamma came running back, terrified lest some dreadful accident had happened to her darling. When she found what was really the matter, she could scarcely help laughing at poor Agnes's dilemma, and she put an end to it by emptying the contents of the basket on the beach, and helping Agnes to refill it with only a few of the stones and shells, and the lightest and prettiest of the sea-weed, with which they returned to the inn.

CHAPTER IX.

Sandown Bay.-Culver Cliff.-Sandown Fort.-High Flood.— Girl and Dog.-Poultry.- Hares.- Butterflies. — Ichneumon Fly.-Myrtles.-Brading.-Bembridge.-St. Helen's.-Arrival

at Ryde.

THE next morning was rather cooler than any day since the Mertons had been in the Isle of Wight; and Agnes felt the want of her little pink handkerchief round her neck. She did not like to complain, however, as she was aware it was entirely her own fault that the handkerchief had been lost; and so she bore the cold as well as she could, without saying a word about it. The road they were travelling commanded a beautiful view of Sandown Bay and Culver Cliff, on which last, Mr. Merton told Agnes, was formerly erected a beacon to warn the inhabitants when any danger was apprehended of an invasion from France, as this was the part of the Island that approached nearest to that country.

"The Isle of Wight was once invaded by the French," said Mrs. Merton, "but I believe it was in the reign of Henry V."

"It was invaded several times previously to that period," said Mr. Merton, "and also, I believe, once or twice in the reign of Henry VI.; and it was to repel these invasions," continued he, pointing to Sandown Fort, "that the fort we see before us was erected in the time of Charles I.; but we now trust to our shipping as our best protection. The only bed of coal that is worth working in the Isle of Wight, is in Culver Cliff."

They now approached the river, which flows inland from Brading Haven, and which had greatly overflowed its banks; but Agnes was very much amused to see a little robin redbreast sitting on a stone in the middle of the water, looking as saucy and unconcerned as possible. A little farther on they approached the deep part of the water; and here the driver told Mrs. Merton and Agnes to sit as steadily as possible, for the current was flowing with great violence, and the horse might be carried off his feet. They did as he desired, and soon reached the opposite bank in safety. They had scarcely done so,

when Agnes' attention was attracted by a little girl who was standing on the high bank just beyond the water, weeping bitterly. It was easy to guess the cause of her grief, for in the water lay the body of a little dog, which appeared to have been dashed by the current against some large stones near which it lay. They were all sorry for the poor little girl, and Mrs. Merton, telling the driver to stop, asked the little girl if it was her dog that she was crying

over.

66

"No, it was not mine," said the child, "it was master's; but it loved me, and I have nothing to love me now."

Mrs. Merton entered into conversation with the girl, and learnt from her that she was an orphan, and had been bound an apprentice by the parish to a neighbouring farmer. The dog that lay dead before them had been her playfellow and companion, and the poor girl's sorrow at its loss was the greater as she had nothing to supply its place in her affections. As, however, it was impossible to restore it to life, Mrs. Merton thought the best thing that could be done was to change the current of the child's ideas, and accordingly gave her a shilling, which effectually