you know, Uncle--Do you know, Ben," said he--"there's to be the most
_famous_ doings that ever were heard of, upon the Downs here, the first
day of next month, which will be in a fortnight, thank my stars! I wish
the fortnight were over; I shall think of nothing else I know, till that
happy day comes."

Mr. Gresham inquired why the first of September was to be so much
happier than any other day in the year.

"Why," replied Hal, "Lady Diana Sweepstakes, you know, is a _famous_
rider, and archer, and _all that_--"

"Very likely," said Mr. Gresham, soberly--"but what then?"

"Dear Uncle!" cried Hal, "but you shall hear. There's to be a race upon
the Downs the first of September, and, after the race, there's to be an
archery meeting for the ladies, and Lady Diana Sweepstakes is to be one
of _them_. And after the ladies have done shooting--now, Ben, comes the
best part of it! we boys are to have our turn, and Lady Di. is to give a
prize to the best marksman amongst us, of a very handsome bow and arrow!
Do you know I've been practising already, and I'll show you tomorrow, as
soon as it comes home, the _famous_ bow and arrow that Lady Diana has
given me: but, perhaps," added he, with a scornful laugh, "you like a
cat's-cradle better than a bow and arrow."

Ben made no reply to this taunt at the moment; but the next day, when
Hal's new bow and arrow came home, he convinced him that he knew how to
use it very well.

"Ben," said his uncle, "you seem to be a good marksman, though you have
not boasted of yourself. I'll give you a bow and arrow; and perhaps, if
you practise, you may make yourself an archer before the first of
September; and, in the meantime, you will not wish the fortnight to be
over, for you will have something to do."

"Oh, Sir," interrupted Hal, "but if you mean that Ben should put in for
the prize, he must have a uniform."

"Why _must_ he?" said Mr. Gresham.

"Why, Sir, because everybody has--I mean everybody that's anybody;--and
Lady Diana was talking about the uniform all dinner-time, and it's
settled all about it except the buttons; the young Sweepstakes are to
get theirs made first for patterns; they are to be white, faced with
green; and they'll look very handsome, I'm sure; and I shall write to
Mamma to-night, as Lady Diana bid me, about mine; and I shall tell her
to be sure to answer my letter, without fail, by return of the post; and
then, if Mamma makes no objection, which I know she won't, b