h stood on the sink-shelf, to
get a dipper-full of drink, had somehow pulled it over. Its entire
contents spouted upon his face, his bosom, his fresh collar and nice
clothes, and the pail came with him to the floor. After the shock, and
the jar, and a little gasping, he began to shriek. Mrs. Royden dropped
Willie, and ran to the rescue. It was well for the drenched boy that his
father arrived first at the spot, and lifted him up. Hepsy was
terrified; but Sam, who had hobbled to the door, to tell Mr. Royden that
the team was ready, laughed till he was too weak to stand.

Mrs. Royden, incensed by the lad's insolence, made a rapid dash at him;
but Sam dodged, and rolled down the steps. Willie, diverted from his own
woes by the mischance which had befallen his brother, crept into a
corner in the sitting-room, where he hid away from his mother's wrath.

How the storm would have ended it is impossible to say, had not Father
Brighthopes made his appearance, serene and glowing from his morning
devotions.

"Ah! what has happened to my little friend?" he cried, as Mr. Royden
held Georgie up to let him drip.

Mr. Royden had kept his temper with astonishing success; but he was on
the point of giving way to his irritable feelings. The old man's
appearance was timely. The perplexed father remembered a resolution he
had made, and was calm in a moment.

"Oh," said he, "Georgie has been taking a big drink at the water-pail.
It was rather too much for him."

"Accidents will happen," cried the clergyman, cheerfully. "Bear it
bravely, my fine fellow! You will get dry again soon. It helps nothing
to cry about it, my little man."

Georgie was hushed almost instantly. He seemed ashamed to make a great
ado about his disaster, and smothered his cries into sobs. Meanwhile,
Mrs. Royden, with a mighty effort, had controlled her boiling and
bursting temper, and hastened to her room.

It was now impossible that Georgie should go to meeting. Hepsy undressed
him, while Mrs. Royden got herself ready with nervous haste. All the
neighbors bound for church had gone by before the family began to pile
into the carriage. Mr. Royden's patience was fast ebbing away.

"Come, come, wife!" he said. "I told you you would be too late."

She flew around confusedly, doing everything amiss, in her hurry.

Three times, when on the point of getting into the carriage, she went
back for something she had forgotten. Then Georgie, unwilling to stay at
home, beg