death approaching, retire to die where others of their kind have died before them. In other words, they are gregarious in death.

'What funny nodding figures these are! The old countryman, his wife with her spade and basket of potatoes, and the ancient dame with spectacles on nose, who is seated in a comfortable arm-chair, with her cat purring at her feet. Give their heads a touch: there they go, nid, nid, nodding! Open that pretty white egg, half hidden in its golden nest. Ah! what have you found? A little green frog? I thought so. It is in imitation of those green tree frogs, so common in the south of France, who keep you awake at night with their unmusical croakings. It is possible to frighten them into silence, I believe, by placing a lighted candle where they can see it. They will then become as silent as mice. Naturalists say common frogs will eat snails, shells and all; but this I can hardly believe.

'Oh! take care of that creeping crocodile! He has a tail long and stiff enough to have been the creature who carried off the poor woman's child in Southey's poem, "The King of the Crocodiles." Do you remember the story? How the poor woman lost her child, and begged the man to take her in his boat to the island where the king reigned? A tradition among the people in Upper Egypt says, "that there is a king of the crocodiles who has ears, but no tail," and who, unlike most kings, can do no harm. The man, however, refused to comply with the poor mother's request, but agreed to lend her his boat, and in it she floated down the stream to his majesty's dominions. He was seated upon the eggs, and around him crawled the young prince crocodiles. The woman fell down on her knees, and told her tale of woe, demanding vengeance for her boy. She added,

The Mother and the Crocodile.

"I know that you, sire, never do wrong;
You have no tail so stiff and strong;
You have no tail to strike and slay,
But you have ears to hear what I say."

'And the answer was

"You have done well," the king replies,
And fixed on her his little eyes.

"Good woman, yes, you have done right,
But you have not described me quite.

I have no tail to strike and slay,
And I have ears to hear what you say;

I have teeth, moreover, as you may see,
And I will make a meal of thee."

113

But the cruel king's boast was a vain one, as he soon found to his cost; for he "missed his bite." And the woman, without more ado, took him by the legs and "trundled him off the eggs of the queen." The queen, I must tell you, was 'gadding abroad." Then the woman caught hold of six of the young princes, and thrust the head of one into the throat of the other, so that "each prince crocodile choked his brother." She carried them off with her in the boat, and made the best of her way home again. And what do you think the queen said when she returned home, and found all her eggs broken, and her six darling princes missing? Oh! she was so angry with the king:

"Is this your care of the nest ?" cried she;
"It comes of your gadding abroad," said he.

Fortunately for the poor king, the queen was contented with words. Being well aware that she had a tail as well as a tongue, he thought it best to be mute, "while a terrible.

H

peal in his ears she rung." very well pleased, as she had

her son.

Meanwhile, the woman was amply revenged the death of

She called all her neighbours together, and gave

them a funeral supper, and

"They all agreed that revenge was sweet,

And young prince crocodiles delicate meat."

'And now, my dear children, with this story, I think my letter must end, for I am getting tired of writing. I hope it may have given you some little pleasure, and if so, perhaps you may be inclined, some future day, to take another peep into Aunt Miriam's room.'

CHAPTER XII.

NEWS FOR MILLY.

H

COW fast the time has gone since I came here!' said Millicent to her aunt one December morning, as they were standing together at the window, watching the light flakes of snow fall to the ground. Why, it is nearly three months!'

'You must be longing to see Herbert again,' said Mrs. Russell. We shall miss you dreadfully, though, when you go; every one of us in different ways.'

'And how I shall miss all of you!' said Milly. 'I can't help liking to go back again to dear Fairfield; but I wish we were all going in a body. I expect it will be rather dull, sometimes, when Herbert is out shooting.'

Mrs. Russell had thought so too, and was not quite happy at the idea of the month Milly was to spend at Fairfield. She knew well enough that Herbert would spare no pains to make her happy, and that he would be with her as much as possible; but, of course, he would have other things to think of besides, and the little girl would of necessity be left to herself a great deal. This would not be good for her in any way, and after three months' constant companionship with other children, Mrs. Russell knew that any child, and

particularly one of so sociable a disposition as Milly, would feel very dull on being suddenly thrown on her own resources. She was still thinking over the matter, when True ran into the room in her capacity as postwoman, exclaiming, 'Such a big fat letter for 'oo to-day, Mammy!' and, on taking it from the little one's hand, Mrs. Russell saw that it was from Herbert Grant. Enclosed was a note for Milly, 'What's that for?' thought Mrs. Russell, as she put it aside; and what can this letter to me be about?' She soon learnt; for Mr. Grant, going at once to the point, told her that he was engaged to be married, and that he wanted her to tell the news to Milly before giving her his note. He then went on to say that he was engaged to a Mrs. Neville, a young widow with a little boy eight years of age. The acquaintance was a short one, having only begun the night of Milly's memorable visit to Mrs. Dickson. Mrs. Neville was then staying with the Marshes, where Herbert had met her at dinner. Mr. Grant gave a charming description of her, and wound up by saying that the marriage was not to take place till February, and that meanwhile Mrs. Neville, her child, and her mother, Mrs. Leigh, were to spend Christmas with him at Fairfield. It will be,' he wrote, 'a good opportunity for Milly to make her acquaintance, and little Harry will be an amusement to her. As, however, I fear she will in any case feel dull without her cousins, I wish I could persuade you to let one of them accompany her to Fairfield. I leave the choice entirely to you and Milly.'

Mrs. Russell carried the letter to her husband. "What! Herbert going to be married?' he exclaimed, as he read it; and to a widow with a boy! I'm sorry he is to have another child to plague him again so soon, and it's sure to be