catching and retaining all matters _not_ necessary to
their instruction, should be excluded from all graver deliberations.

"But this is a digression, and as it is one that belongs to a world
beyond our little kingdom, it is perhaps not quite my business to enter
on it at all. Where was I in my story? I am quite ashamed of trespassing
so on your patience; but time and hard usage have so enfeebled my poor
broken memory, that I almost forget all I am doing or saying!"

"You were mentioning a serious illness that occurred to you," suggested
the Humming Top, very gravely; "pray relieve our minds as to its
symptoms and duration!"

"Oh yes," resumed the Doll, languidly; "I was telling you how I really
had the measles when they were so prevalent in our neighbourhood. Ethel,
as I said before, was terribly alarmed at the vague disease; and not at
all pleased with Baby Harold, who trotted soberly about the nursery,
singing in his fashion,

"'I dowing a have a measoos a morrer!' till Ethel got hold of him, and
drew such an awful picture of what she imagined they must be, including
a plentiful allowance of powders, currant jam, and castor oil, that he
roared in terror.

"'What's the row here?' asked Alan, lounging in at the time, and
throwing himself full length on the hearth rug.

"'I dowing a have a measoos, and Efel says I sail be sick--so bad--and
Smif dive me powders!' sobbed Harold, dolefully.

"'What rubbish!' growled Alan; 'you're _not_ going to have them, Harold;
you can't till Ethel has had them first herself; you daren't, you know;
don't you recollect what Nurse says when you want to be helped to
pudding before her,--"Age before honesty, Master Harold;" and so Ethel
shall have the measles first too!'

"'I won't, Alan,' whined Ethel; 'if you say such horrid things, I'll
tell Mamma. I shan't have the measles, shall I Nurse?'

"'I hope not, from my heart,' answered Nurse, very fervently; 'I've
handful enough with you as it is, but goodness forbid you should be all
laid up just now.'

"Next morning, when Ethel was washed and dressed, and went into the day
nursery to breakfast, Alan beckoned her out with a very grave face, and
told her to follow him down to the school-room. She did so, full of
curiosity at the unusual event; but when he opened the door and led her
in, she was still further puzzled. The tablecloth was laid for breakfast
for the elder ones, but the blinds were all down, and on the table lay
somethin