CHAPTER XXVI.

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THE STATUE OF WELLINGTON.

AITH, Jack, but it 'll soon be the first Sunday in the month; shan't ye be glad to see your mother again?"

"Rather," replied Jackie; "and I suppose you will, too. Of course you'll go with me; mother said I was always to take you. They like you, Pat; father says you are so lively, you waken them all up."

"Sure, but I've never found them asleep yet, so how can I be afther waking them ?"

"He doesn't mean that, he means you cheer them up." "Faith, but they always seem cheerful, when I get there, so as not to need any cheering."

"Well, but you do them good."

"Sure, but how? for I carry neither pills nor black draughts with me."

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Oh, you are in a perverse mood, are you? I shall leave off trying to convince you, I know when you take a fit like this, one might as well try to make an impression on a post."

"Faith, but ye could do that, if ye took the right method."

"Not if it were an iron post."

"Sure, but ye could. Put it in a furnace and see." "Pat, you do get stupid sometimes. I don't exactly

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mean stupid; but you won't understand what I mean." Sure, but how is a fellow to be afther understanding what ye mean, if ye don't say ?"

"When you take this fit, it's no use saying; it's only waste of words."

Sure, and don't waste them, then, keep them till ye want them. Ye know there's an old proverb which says: Wilful waste makes woeful want.' Faith, Jack, but if ye waste all your words on me, and when you've to say your lessons ye can't find any, it will be a grievous thing-ye might find it woeful want."

"What on earth are you two jangling about? asked Arthur, coming up to the pair. "You're going at it hammer and tongs, I must say."

'Sure, and it's not jangling at all, we are. I was but advising Jack not to waste his words. Faith, Art! but it 'll soon be the first Sunday in the month, and won't ye rejoice to go home ?”

"I shall. Oh, Pat, I want to ask you a question. Are you going out?"

"And Charlie's going with Dysie; and there Drysdale, what's to be done with him? He'll be as doleful as anything, if he's left behind. He's frightened at Jarvice's shadow."

"Sure, but I thought Mr. Ellsworth had reprimanded Jarvice."

"So he has, and Drysdale's safe enough; but he's such

a timid little kid. I expect I shall have to take him with me. I must ask papa, after service, to-day. He's sure to be there, he always comes on a Tuesday afternoon. I don't want the poor little thing frightened out of his wits." "Can't ye leave him for once?"

"I might leave him, it's true; but when we came back, he'd be looking like a ghost. It will be a change, too, for him to go with me."

"So it will, Art. Ye're not half a bad lad, taking ye altogether. Drysdale might be in worse hands."

He laughed merrily as he spoke, and Arthur, with a “Thank you, sir, for your kind opinion of me," walked off to the school-room.

How unlike his old

How thoughtful he was growing. self, to take this kindly consideration for his little schoolfellow; but lately, he had somehow learned to care more for others, and to consult their pleasure and happiness.

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Papa," he said, to Dr. Leslie. "May I bring Stanley Drysdale home with me, on Sunday. He is only young, and if he's not with Charlie, or Dysie, or me, he gets timid, he is so much in fear of the Jarvices."

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Yes, my boy, bring him by all means; I shall be much pleased to see the little fellow."

"What is this I hear about the first Sunday in the month," enquired the little Stanley, of Charlie. "What do you do?"

"We go out, as many of us as have invitations, after morning service. I go to Mr. Leland's, with Dysie. We are allowed until nine, at night, only, of course, we attend afternoon service. "

"What shall I do?" asked the little boy. "Is Arthur going?"

"Yes, he goes home."

"And you go with Dysie. Why, I shall be all alone. I dare not stay! I am sure I dare not!" cried he, ruefully regarding Charlie.

"I'm sorry, Stanley, I can't take you with me. if I could. Arthur, here's Drysdale in a fix." "How's that?"

I would,

"He doesn't like the idea of spending Sunday here, without us.

"If that's all, he needn't be in much of a fix. I've settled for him. I thought he wouldn't like to be left, so I asked papa, to-day, if he might go with me. You're all right, Stanley. At least, as right as I can make you. I'm your guardian for Sunday."

"Oh, Arthur! I am pleased, I am indeed," replied the little fellow. "How good of you to think of me."

"Not it," said Arthur, cheerily. "Not much goodness there. It's nothing, as Prince Charlie would say. I hope you'll enjoy yourself; but I think you are sure to do, papa is so kind to everyone."

66 Have you asked Mr. Ellsworth," said Charlie.

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Yes, and he offered no opposition. He said, 'You may take him, if you like, Melville, as you have Dr. Leslie's permission.'

Now, one of Mr. Ellsworth's favourite methods of decorating, and beautifying his house, was by adorning it, in all available places, with statuary.

Accordingly, in niches, and on brackets, throughout

the interior, might be seen, busts, or

figures, of this or that celebrated personage, as the case might be. Overlooking the landing, on a bracket, stood a small figure of Wellington, Roman nose, top-boots and all.

For Pat, this diminutive figure of the great warrior, seemed to possess a large amount of attraction. Rarely did he pass it by unnoticed, usually checking his steps to look at, and sometimes talk to it, in his comical way.

"There's O'Connell, with his Iron Duke again," would say the boys, to whom his partiality afforded much

amusement.

On this same evening, the Irish lad could be heard carrying on the following dialogue, if such it may be called, with his Iron friend.

"How d'ye do, Mister Wellington, this moonlight night? I'm afther thinking ye must be tired of your station, and want a change. Faith, me darlint, but should ye like a walk? Suppose ye go on a short excursion wid me!"

As he gave utterance to his thoughts, he lifted the statuette in his arms, pillowing the head on his shoulder, and commenced a tour of the rooms.

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Sure, but may we be afther paying ye a visit?" he said, tapping at Charlie's door. "Will ye receive us? It's myself that's only brought a friend, who can't walk unless he's carried."

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'Pat, you'll drop that statue, and break it, I expect!" cried Charlie, "then there will be costs, &c., for you."

"Nonsense, not I! Faith! but do ye think I'm so careless? Why I'd carry you, at a push. As for you, Tannie Drysdale," addressing the little fairy figure.