"Just look here! They have gone away without Hero; here's the lazy old animal here now!"

At the sound of his voice, the big dog raised himself slowly, wagging his shaggy tail, and licking his great chops, with an air of sheepishness about him, as though he were ashamed of having been discovered enjoying a nap in such comfortable quarters as a periwinkle bed.

Slowly blinking his eyes at us in the bright sunshine, he put out his great paw, and offered to "shake hands," doubtless thinking that a scolding would be inconsistent after such a friendly greeting as that.

"Oh! you jolly old doggie! You were a dear old thing, to go off sound asleep and stay behind with us!" cried Mat, hugging the great creature affectionately.

Hero wagged his tail complacently, as though he understood it all perfectly.

Then he raised his head, and solemnly commenced licking Mat's face, stopping between each salute to gnash his jaws together with a sharp, powerful snap.

Mat and he were great friends. Indeed, to all the boys he was ever gentle and patient, unless they carried their teazing too far for even his forgiving spirit, when a low growl would warn them that in the gentlest nature lies an element of exasperation,-dormant, it may be, but none the less fierce on that account, when once it breaks forth.

Half-past five found us lingering over our tea, which Mrs. Hughes had ordered to be spread under a big tree upon the lawn.

Finding that we all voted for having it literally upon the ground, we had dispensed with tables and chairs, and were sitting round upon the dry grass, some cross-legged like the Turks, others lying full length upon their stomachs, as the nations do who live still further east.

"Please may I give Hero some milk?" Mat asked. "I have quite finished my tea."

"Certainly. The poor dog must be both hungry and thirsty by now," replied Mrs. Hughes, smiling.

"Oh, yes. But hasn't he sat good, all the time we've been eating and drinking? He never bothers you a bit at meals," said Mat, delighted to find a fresh listener to whom to sound the praises of his favourite. "Only it's almost as bad as asking-to look at you with such big, wistful eyes; but then, of course, he can't help looking like that, when he feels hungry, can he? Here you are, old doggie! Come along, then," and Mat, pouring a plentiful supply of milk into his saucer, placed it before the thirsty dog.

Hero sprang eagerly forward.

"Wait! You are not to touch it till you are given leave!" cried Mat, in a tone of authority. Though his lips had almost touched the coveted prize, Hero raised his head obediently, fixing his black eyes patiently upon the little tyrant.

"Look, Mrs. Hughes, isn't he good?"

"Quite a pattern to have in a school; eh, Sam?" said Mrs. Hughes, with a merry laugh at the Scamp, who had, unfortunately, crammed his mouth so full of buttered toast that he could not manage to reply, in spite of his most desperate attempts to choke himself by swallowing it whole.

"It was a shame to keep him from it any longer, wasn't it?' continued Mat, addressing the dog again. "Come, you may have it now," and he nodded vigorously.

Apparently Hero was doubtful for the moment as to whether or not Mat was really in earnest, but the next minute, with one wag of his tail, he fell to work.

As soon as his tongue tasted the milk, down went his tail between his legs, as the manner of most dogs is, whether they are guiltily conscious of helping themselves on the sly, or whether they are honestly employed in the enjoyment of food or drink. Only, in the former case, their tails may possibly disappear

somewhat further out of sight than they do when the repast is a legal one.

"You may take a biscuit for him, if you like," said Mrs. Hughes, evidently pleased to see how great an interest Mat took in the dog's welfare.

"Oh, may I? A whole one? A whole big one? Oh, thank you! " and Mat's face beamed all over with delight when Mrs. Hughes handed him the plate, and told him to select the largest he could find.

"Just look, Mary, he'll catch splendidly. You watch Mat throw it up for him," I said, jumping to my knees, and sitting back on my feet to get a better view.

"Here, Mat, I can shy straighter than you,-eversomuch!" cried the Scamp. "Let me try," he added, impatiently, stretching out his hand to seize Mat's biscuit.

For Hero, after successfully catching the first few pieces thrown to him from a short distance, had managed to miss a couple, one after the other.

"Oh, Sam, you mustn't take it away from Mat like that. You may have one for yourself if you like, but I cannot allow any quarrelling over it."

Sam looked ashamed of himself.

How easily we are abashed by the reproof of a stranger; but alas! how quickly we become hardened to the signs of their displeasure, as soon as the first restraint of shyness wears off.

66 And may I have one too?" asked Harry.

"And I?"

"And I?" echoed Mary and I, anxious to share in the general diversion.

"Then you must each take it in turns to throw it to him." So Hero was soon standing under the fire of five persons, and most amusing it was to see him dart about from one to another of the falling pieces, his great jaws clashing together with a crack,-sometimes upon nothing at all!

Occasionally one bit went in rather sooner than he expected, and nearly choked him, by slipping down his throat almost before he knew that it was in his mouth.

We wound up by all flinging at once, and laughed heartily as, in his efforts to catch several together, he rolled backwards head over heels down the grass.

Then we turned to go.

"Oh, we have enjoyed ourselves so much!" cried Harry Morland, emphatically.

"I should just think we have!" seconded the Scamp, cramming into his pockets a large bunch of grapes, from the plateful being held out to us as a parting gift.

"I don't like them, thank you," I said, shaking my head, when it came to my turn.

"Don't like grapes? Oh, you funny boy! But I remember now that Francis never cared for fruit when he was little; your father I mean, you know. Oh dear! I quite forgot myself,I promised-'

She bit her lip, and stopped short.

I had not noticed, particularly, what she said, for she seemed to be speaking more to herself than to me. But now, her altered manner brought the sound of her words back to my memory, and I mentally resolved to ask my father, on the first opportunity, whether he was as well acquainted with this strange friend of mine, as she seemed to be with him.

"If you wouldn't mind, though," I asked, timidly, "I should like to carry my share home with me. I'd like to give Johnnie Harris some; he's so fond of them, and he wanted so to stay with us this afternoon."

Secretly, I decided to offer part to Rogers, being still anxious to conciliate him, and to ingratiate myself into his favour.

Whether this was a sneakish piece of "toadyism," or a genuine desire to walk in the spirit of my Sunday's dream, I could never quite decide.

Should I take so much pains to gain the approbation of one whom I really disliked as thoroughly, but feared less? I could not exactly say.

"Good-night, and thank you ever so much," said Mat, putting up his happy little face to be kissed. "And won't you shake hands with Hero, please? I'm sure he'd like to, for he has had such a splendid tea."

So we passed out through the little wicket-gate, into the quiet country lane, Mrs. Hughes and Mary standing, with eyes shaded from the setting sun, to watch us out of sight.

"Go straight home, boys, and don't loiter on the road, there's good children. You were to have started at a quarter to six, and there is the village clock striking a quarter past! But you will be home, now, long before it is dark."

With which parting caution sounding in our ears, we started off at a brisk trot down the hill, turning at the corner to wave our hats and handkerchiefs, and to shout a last "Good-night!" before disappearing from view.