and toned down by the mellow, chastened light that illumined them, making the devastation wrought by the hand of time less apparent to the eyes of the beholder.

They gazed upon it in silence for some minutes, then passed on, talking over a proposed visit to Bonn, the beauties of which Lady Menteith had heard, but which she had never seen, and, after a gentle walk of about half-amile, returned to the house, greatly refreshed and soothed.

CHAPTER VIII.

A VISITOR AT THE SPENSER'S.

AITH, Jackie, but shall I have to be afther taking

all these things with me to your house? Why,

your mother will think it's intending to set up a tailor's shop, I am."

"Yes, you must take them, old boy. Why, you wouldn't leave them here, would you? Get them in your boxes. See, I've nearly done!"

"It's myself that's considering where they're to go," said the Irish boy, ruefully regarding the piles of clothing arranged on the bed, and on the floor, too, for Master Pat had no troublesome scruples about the fitness of places, the first was generally the best, with him.

"Come, old fellow, put them in your boxes," said Jackie, and Pat obeyed: he took up a pile of sundries, and tossed them in headlong; then followed boots, and, lastly, some clean collars, and other articles of linen apparel.

Having accomplished this wonderful feat, a sigh of relief escaped him, and he sank down on the bed, groaning out, “There, that's done.”

"DONE!" cried Jackie; "You mean to say you call that done; well, if ever I saw the like. Talk about medley

pie, and, lo! you behold it. Pat, do you expect it will improve your collars to wrap them round your boots ?

"I haven't," said Pat, rousing himself to look at the medley-pie, where, sure enough, a clean linen collar might have been seen embracing one of Master O'Connell's shoes.

"Faith, but the craythur must be alive and have crept there for vexation; come out with ye," and he gave it a shake that sent a button flying to the other end of the

room.

"Bad luck to the buttons; I believe they are stitched on with burnt thread," growled he, and sat down.

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Why, boy, you'll be all night at that rate," said Jackie; "I'll come and help you directly. What a lot of toggerie you've got, Pat."

"More than's good for anything," returned the Irish boy; "at least, it's good enough; but it's a regular bother. I've never packed in my life, and I can't, so there's the long and short of it, Jack."

"Stand aside; here, take the things out, and I'll put them in properly."

Pat obeyed, and the tidy little Jackie laid them carefully in the box.

"Sure, and you'll have to be afther jumping on them to get the lid shut down, I'm thinking," remarked Pat.

Nonsense, old boy, it'll shut right enough, the things only want laying straight: now, it's proper. You'll have to cord it, though, and it wants locking. Where's your key?"

"I haven't one; I gave it to Willie Morgan last half, when he lost his, the callant."

A sensible trick," said Jackie, laughing; "Well, it won't matter much just to go to our house; father will perhaps find one for you. Where's your cord, Pat?"

“Don't know: oh, sure and I took it out to fish with the other day when we went down by the river, and lost it, I suppose."

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Well, there's a pretty kettle of fish-no key and no cord. What's to be done? Oh, I have it. I'll go and ask Tom to lend me one he will if he can, I know," and off trotted the good-natured little Jackie on his errand of mercy. Presently he returned, bringing with him the required article.

"Here you are, Pat," he cried, "rope enough to hang you."

"I'd rather be afther hanging the box than myself," replied the lad.

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Oh, well, come and help me to do it," said Jackie, and the pair, between them, managed to cord the box very respectably.

"Shall I have to be afther carrying it?" enquired Pat. "No, of course not; how would you manage it, I'd like to know? Father will bring the pony-trap."

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Trap!" echoed Pat; "what do ye mean? I'll thank ye not to put me in a trap.”

"Pony-carriage, then, if trap doesn't suit you," said Jackie; "only we call them traps in England."

"Do ye? Well, that's something fresh, I never heard it before, When's your father coming, Jack?

"To-night, after cathedral service; it's useless going before, and I want to be home as soon as possible. Oh,

Pat! won't we have some fun; you'll have to make

self at home, old fellow."

"Trust me for that," said the Irish boy.

Ellis going?

"With Leland," replied Jackie.

"And Durand?"

"With Alfred Everard."

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your

"Where's

Why, there won't be a boy left at school, Jack; they may be afther shutting up shop altogether, these holidays."

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Yes, isn't it jolly for all the boys to be out; they will enjoy themselves, I know, Ellis will at Leland's, they are such kind people. So will Durand at Everard's. We have all to go to a party at Mr. Leland's; I've been there once, and they were so good; you will like them, Pat."

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Well, if they are like Dysie, they'll do," replied Pat. Have ye done packing, Jack?"

"Yes, all but the trimmings; lend a helping hand here, old boy."

Pat complied with the request, and the trimmings were soon put on, as Master Jackie very politely designated his box-cord; the two boys then declaring themselves to be quite ready for the "trap," when trap-time should arrive. They returned to school after service, and found Mr. Spenser with the pony-chaise, in waiting for them.

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What about the luggage, father?" enquired Jackie, after the customary greetings had been exchanged.

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Oh, Sam has taken it in the light cart, both yours and your friend's; so you have nothing to do but to say, good