"It's a peach, and not an apple, Miss," said the woman. Agnes was quite provoked to have it supposed that she, a botanist's daughter, did not know a peach from an apple; and, turning round angrily, told the woman to get away, and not to dare to be so troublesome. Unfortunately, however, while Agnes was scolding the old woman for teasing her, a sudden gust of wind, operating upon the broad surface of the cloak, actually blew her a short way down the hill before she could recover herself. The old woman laughed; and Agnes, who was quite indignant, declared that Carisbrook Castle was the most disagreeable place she had ever seen in her life.

66 It is rather soon to say that," said Mrs. Merton; "when you have only yet seen its ancient gate, and a troublesome old woman on the outside of it."

The man whose office it was to show the castle

Fig. 5.

CARISBROOK GATE,

now opened the gate, and called their attention to its antiquity. "These towers," said he, "are of the age of Edward IV., and look, ladies, at this ancient wooden door, it is of equal antiquity." They looked at the wooden door, which was indeed very old and very much dilapidated; but Mrs. Merton could not help suspecting that its workmanship was of more modern date than that which the man assigned to it, particularly as the arms of Elizabeth were emblazoned over the gateway. She pointed these out

Fig. 6.

KING CHARLES'S WINDOW.

to the man, who replied, "The Castle was repaired and fortified in the reign. of Elizabeth, when the whole country trembled with dread at the apprehension of the invasion of the Spanish Armada. Look at those ruins on the left. There is the window at which the unfortunate Charles I. attempted to escape, but his most Sacred Majesty being, as

the historians describe him, of portly presence, the window was too small to admit of his passing through it." They now ascended the dilapidated steps of the keep, but Agnes was too cross and too much annoyed by the wind, to admire the beautiful prospect that presented itself. They, therefore, descended again, as well as the wind would permit them, the seventy-two stone steps by which they had mounted, and repaired to the well-house, to visit the celebrated donkey. When they first entered Agnes was a little disappointed to see the donkey without any bridle or other harness on, standing close to the wall, behind a great wooden wheel.

"Oh, mamma," cried she, "I suppose the donkey will not work to-day, as he has no harness on?"

"I beg your pardon, miss," said the man; "this poor little fellow does not require to be chained like your London donkeys, he does his work voluntarily. Come, sir," continued he, addressing the donkey; "show the ladies what you can do." The donkey shook his head in a very sagacious manner, as much as to say, "you may depend upon me," and sprang directly into the interior of the wheel, which was broad and hollow, and furnished in the inside with