t; and he spent the remainder of the
evening in a state of impish triumph; for, had not his own father come
home in the same wet and draggled condition as that in which he himself
had presented himself to Mrs Brown earlier in the day, and for which he
had received a sound whipping? "Hooray!" and with that the amiable
child went off to inform his worthy nurse that "papa was as bad a boy as
himself--badder, in fact; for he, (Jacky), had only been in the water up
to the waist, while papa had gone into it head and heels!"

STORY ONE, CHAPTER 6.

THE PICNIC.

A Vision of beauty now breaks upon the scene! This vision is tall,
graceful, and commanding in figure. It has long black ringlets,
piercing black eyes, a fair delicate skin, and a bewitching smile that
displays a row of--of "pearls!" The vision is about sixteen years of
age, and answers to the romantic name of Flora Macdonald. It is sister
to that stalwart Hector who first showed Mr Sudberry how to fish; and
stately, sedate, and beautiful does it appear, as, leaning on its
brother's arm, it ascends the hill towards the White House, where
extensive preparations are being made for a picnic.

"Good-morning, Mr Sudberry," cries Hector, doffing his bonnet and
bowing low to Lucy. "Allow me to introduce my sister, Flora; but,"
(glancing at the preparations), "I fear that my visit is inopportune."

Mr Sudberry rushes forward and shakes Hector and sister heartily by the
hand.

"My dear sir, my dear madam, inopportune! impossible! I am charmed. We
are just going on a picnic, that is all, and you will go with us. Lucy,
my dear, allow me to introduce you to Miss Macdonald--"

"_Flora_, my good sir; pray do not let us stand upon ceremony,"
interposes Hector.

Lucy bows with a slight air of bashful reserve; Flora advances and
boldly offers her hand. The blue eyes and the black meet; the former
twinkle, the latter beam, and the knot is tied; they are fast friends
for life!

"Glorious day," cries Mr Sudberry, rubbing his hands.

"Magnificent," assents Hector. "You are fortunate in the weather, for,
to say truth, we have little enough of sunshine here. Sometimes it
rains for three or four weeks, almost without cessation."

"Does it indeed?"

Mr Sudberry's visage elongates a little for one moment. Just then
George and Fred come out of the White House laden with hampers and
fishing-baskets full of provisions. They start, gaze in surprise at the
vision, an