ld give rise to in the future. Often when chattering
about their doings before Miss Thompson or their parents, references to
Lewis and his wonderful tales nearly slipped out, and the subject had
to be awkwardly changed. Once or twice questions were asked to which
the children, though they avoided telling downright falsehoods in
reply, yet gave wilfully misleading answers. And they had been
sufficiently well brought-up for this course of little deceptions to
make them feel thoroughly uncomfortable.

It was a real relief to have done with Lewis and all concealment, and
to be starting off boldly to play their old games, which, though a
little noisy and rough, were admittedly innocent. Sometimes they were
explorers discovering the source of the Nile; another day they would be
an eager party of adventurers hunting for gold in Australia. In either
case they carried long sticks and shouted the whole time. To-day, as
it happened, they were big-game hunters, looking out for giraffes,
elephants, and an occasional lion. They expected to find them behind
the hay-ricks or in the poultry-yard; failing those likely spots, they
would try the cow-house.

"I hope my new rifle will act to-day," observed Madge, shouldering a
pea-stick with great dignity. "Last time I was out it missed fire, and
I lost a fine buck in the forest."

This piece of information was received with perfect gravity by the
other children. The only way to enjoy games properly is to be quite
serious about them.

"I have slain twenty wolves with this spear!" cried John suddenly.

"But that's no reason why you should poke my eye out with it!"
exclaimed Betty, seizing the rough end of a long stick that was being
brandished close to her head.

"Oh, I'm so sorry! Your cheek is bleeding. Let's look!" and John
proceeded to examine his handiwork with more apparent interest than
regret.

"It's nothing! A miss is as good as a mile!" answered Betty
impatiently, as she scrubbed her cheek with a dirty handkerchief. It
was considered a great breach of etiquette to acknowledge that one was
hurt when playing a game. At lessons, on the contrary, a little fuss
about a scratch or bruise was allowable, because it took up time which
otherwise would have been devoted to study.

"Hist! Go gently! We are tracking the wild boar to his lair!"
muttered Madge. "Conceal yourselves from view behind the brushwood and
creep after me."

Now, a mere ordinary grown-up person