looked as one may
imagine the frog in the fable would have looked, had he been able to
swell himself rather nearer to the size of the ox. This was partly due
to his very prominent eyes, and partly to an obesity favoured by
habits of lying inside the fender, and of eating meals proportioned
more to his consequence than to his hunger. They were both favourites
of two years' standing, and had very nearly been given away, when the
good news came of an English home for the family, dogs and all.

Robert's tongue was seldom idle, even at meals. "Are you a
Yorkshirewoman, Sarah?" he asked, pausing, with his spoon full in his
hand.

"No, Master Robert," said Sarah.

"But you understand Yorkshire, don't you? I can't, very often; but
Mamma can, and can speak it, too. Papa says Mamma always talks
Yorkshire to servants and poor people. She used to talk Yorkshire to
Themistocles, Papa said, and he said it was no good; for though
Themistocles knew a lot of languages, he didn't know that. And Mamma
laughed, and said she didn't know she did."--"Themistocles was our
man-servant in Corfu," Robin added, in explanation. "He stole lots of
things, Themistocles did; but Papa found him out."

Robin now made a rapid attack on his bread-and-milk, after which he
broke out again.

"Sarah, who is that tall old gentleman at church, in the seat near the
pulpit? He wears a cloak like what the Blues wear, only all blue, and
is tall enough for a Lifeguardsman. He stood when we were kneeling
down, and said _Almighty and most merciful Father_ louder than
anybody."

Sarah knew who the old gentleman was, and knew also that the children
did not know, and that their parents did not see fit to tell them as
yet. But she had a passion for telling and hearing news, and would
rather gossip with a child than not gossip at all. "Never you mind,
Master Robin," she said, nodding sagaciously. "Little boys aren't to
know everything."

"Ah, then, I know you don't know," replied Robert; "if you did, you'd
tell. Nicholas, give some of your bread to Darkie and Pax. I've done
mine. _For what we have received, the Lord make us truly thankful._
Say your grace and put your chair away, and come along. I want to hold
a court-martial!" And seizing his own chair by the seat, Robin carried
it swiftly to its corner. As he passed Sarah, he observed tauntingly,
"You pretend to know, but you don't."

"I do," said Sarah.

"You don't," said Robin.

"Your ma's forbid you to