learned to hear her thank these silent heavenly guardians often.) "What
do you think? Last week we came here, Gardiner and me, we come often. We
play with the ancient Egyptians. I'm Cleopatra and Gardiner's' different
things, and there's a guardian here that we specially like because he
taught us things useful for school if you have a weak memory. This is
how you remember the poets--

Shakespeare, Milton, Byron, Pope,
Go upstairs and get some soap.

So you see we can't forget them like that. And Shakespeare's birth and
death I never could remember till he taught me--

Fifteen hundred and sixty-four
Shakespeare first was heard to roar.
Sixteen hundred and sixteen
Billy Shakespeare last was seen.

When your memory's weak it's a great help, Cousin Antony. Then what do
you think Gardiner did?"

Here Fairfax was more than ever sensible of the little boy's clinging
hand. He looked down at the sensitive, flushed face, and the fascinated
eyes of Gardiner were fixed on the vigorous, ardent little sister.

"Well," said Antony, cordially, "I reckon it's not anything very bad,
little cousin."

He led them to a bench under the calm serene chaperonage of Rameses who
kept sentinel over them.

"Bad," whispered Bella, "why it was the worst thing you can possibly
imagine, Cousin Antony. He stole."

The child's voice dropped solemnly and the silence that fell in the
museum was impressive, even though the situation was humorous. Gardiner,
whom Antony had lifted on his knee, raised his head and looked his
cousin mildly in the eyes.

"It was a shell," he said slowly, "a blue and bwown shell. Nobody was
looking and I took it home."

He confessed calmly and without shame, and his sister said--

"The guardian was cleaning the cases. I think they trusted us, Cousin
Antony, we were alone here, and it makes it much worse. When we got home
Gardiner showed it to me, and we have had to wait a week to come back
and restore it."

"I westored it," repeated the boy, "Bella made me."

With his diminutive hand he made a shell and discoursed regretfully--

"It was a perfectly lovely shell. It's over there in its place. Bella
made me put it back again."

"The worst of it is," said the sister, "that he doesn't seem to care. He
doesn't mind being a thief."

"Well," laughed Antony, "don't you trouble about it, Bella honey, you
have been a policeman and a judge and a benefactor all in one, and you
have