illed up by a distant view of the prettiest part of our settlement,
where Joe Binney's garden lies, close to Mrs Lynch's garden, with its
wonderfully shaped and curious hut, (no wonder, built by herself!) and a
corner of the palace rising just behind the new schoolhouse."

"Mind your eye, queen, else you go souse overboard when we strike," said
Otto, not without reason, for next moment the dinghy's keel grated on
the sand of the islet, and Pauline, having risen in her eagerness to go
to work, almost fulfilled the boy's prediction.

"But tell me, Pina, what do you mean to do with that schoolhouse when it
is built?" asked Otto, as he walked beside his sister to the picturesque
spot above referred to.

"To teach in it, of course."

"What--yourself?"

"Well, yes, to some extent. Of course I cannot do much in that way--"

"I understand--the affairs of state!" said Otto, "will not permit,
etcetera."

"Put it so if you please," returned Pauline, laughing. "Here, sit down;
help me to arrange my things, and I'll explain. You cannot fail to have
been impressed with the fact that the children of the settlers are
dreadfully ignorant."

"H'm! I suppose you are right; but I have been more deeply impressed
with the fact that they are dreadfully dirty, and desperately
quarrelsome, and deplorably mischievous."

"Just so," resumed Pauline. "Now, I intend to get your friend Redding,
who was once a schoolmaster, to take these children in hand when the
schoolroom is finished, and teach them what he can, superintended by Dr
Marsh, who volunteered his services the moment I mentioned the school.
In the evenings I will take the mothers in hand, and teach them their
duties to their children and the community--"

"Being yourself such an old and experienced mother," said Otto.

"Silence, sir! you ought to remember that we have a dear, darling mother
at home, whose character is engraven on my memory, and whom I can hold
up as a model."

"True, Pina! The dear old mother!" returned Otto, a burst of
home-feeling interfering for a moment with his levity. "Just you paint
her portrait fair and true, and if they come anything within a hundred
miles o' the mark yours will be a kingd---queendom, I mean--of amazin'
mothers. I sometimes fear," continued the boy, becoming grave, "it may
be a long time before we set eyes on mother again."

"I used to fear the same," said Pauline, "but I have become more hopeful
on that point since Dr Mar