he was a perfect marvel of
robust health--that nothing ailed him, except the result of over-eating
and the want of open-air exercise; and I am sure that I can testify to
the strength of his legs and the soundness of his lungs; for he kicks
like a jackass, and roars like a lion."

"It is _very_ wrong, _very_ sinful of the doctor," said Mrs Sudberry,
in a languidly indignant manner, "to give such a false report of the
health of our darling boy."

At this moment the door burst open, and the "darling boy" rushed into
the room--with a wild cheer of defiance at his nurse, from whom he had
escaped, and who was in full pursuit--hit his head on the corner of the
table, and fell flat on the floor, with a yell that might have sent a
pang of jealousy to the heart of a Chippeway Indian!

Mr Sudberry started up, and almost overturned the tea-table in his
haste; but before he could reach his prostrate son, nurse had him
kicking in her arms, and carried him off howling.

"Darling child!" said Mrs Sudberry, with her hand on her heart. "How
you do startle me, John, with your violence! That is the fifteenth
tea-cup this week."

The good lady pointed to a shattered member of the set that lay on the
tray beside her.

"I have just ordered a new set, my dear," said her husband, in a subdued
voice. "Our poor dear boy would benefit, I think, by mountain air. But
go on with the _cons_."

"Have I not said enough?" replied Mrs Sudberry, with an injured look.
"Besides, they have no food in Scotland."

This was a somewhat staggering assertion. The merchant looked
astonished.

"At least," pursued his wife, "they have nothing, I am told, but
oatmeal. Do you imagine that Jacky could live on oatmeal? Do you
suppose that your family would return to London in a condition fit to be
looked at, after a summer spent on food such as we give to our horses?
No doubt you will tell me they have plenty of milk,--buttermilk, I
suppose, which I abhor. But do you think that I could live with
pleasure on sawdust, just because I had milk to take to it?"

"But milk implies cream, my dear," interposed the merchant, "and
buttermilk implies butter, and both imply cows, which are strong
presumptive evidence in favour of beef. Besides--"

"Don't talk to me, Mr Sudberry. _I_ know better; and Lady Knownothing,
who went to Scotland last year, in the most unprejudiced state of mind,
came back absolutely horrified by what she had seen. Why, she actually
t