out in
the nursery. So take them, Nurse, and let them give pleasure to other
little ones.'

"And thus Nurse Lee took charge of us, and one evening coming to drink
tea in Mrs. Spenser's nursery, she brought us all in our box for Miss
Celia, who was then a little girl. But since she grew older, we were
stuffed away by chance in this old cupboard. I told you all fairly that
mine was a melancholy story," added the Teapot, in an injured sort of
voice, "and you see I am right, and now I've done!"

The rest of the Toys did not make much remark, for they were all rather
saddened by the story of little "Fower," but the Ball, who could not be
very grave for long together, bounced up briskly, and told the Teapot,
she was entitled to call on any of the rest of the company for a story
in turn.

"I would rather not," replied the Teapot, eagerly; "I am but a foolish
body at all such formal doings. Pray let the next in turn favour us."

Then the Ball, rather afraid of a discussion, turned it off with a joke
and said:--

"Well, then, in your name I will call upon the Kite for a story, for, as
he flies so high, he can't be very nervous, and no doubt he has seen a
good deal in high latitudes, that we shall be glad to hear!"

The Kite waved a graceful bow all round, and professed his entire
readiness to be at the service of the company.

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

CHAPTER V.

THE MAKING OF THE KITE BY THE HOME CIRCLE.

"I will begin," said he, "by describing my first appearance in my
present form. Never did a large ship launch or the building of a great
mansion require more care and pains, or entirely engross more workmen
than I did in _my_ construction. My architect-in-chief, I must tell you,
was George Vernon, Esquire, commonly called "Uncle Gee," and the workmen
he employed under his orders were as follows. Foreman, or rather
forewoman, Mrs. Tufnell, otherwise called indifferently, mother, mamma,
or mummy; and as workpeople, Bob, aged eleven; Tom, aged ten; Mary,
alias Polly, aged nine; Jeanie, usually termed "Jean," aged eight;
Theodore, popularly christened "Dora," because he was a little given to
tearfulness and whines, aged seven; and lastly little Lucy, who still
bore the name of "baby," and who numbered five summers.

"Now Uncle Gee had come home for his holidays, for though he was nearly
grown up, and seemed a giant in cleverness to all his little nephews and
nieces, he was still at Oxford, and workin