on the look-out
for him for an hour, scampered down to meet him.

"Hurrah, Jeff!" shouted Teddy (I grieve to say that these irreverent
brethren had long ago fallen into the scandalous habit of calling their
teacher by a familiar contraction of his proper name, nor had the master
rebuked them). "Hurrah, Jeff! we were afraid you weren't coming."

"The tricycle won't go," said Freddy; "we've pulled it all to bits, and
tried to make it right with a hammer, but it's very bad."

"It's glorious you've come to do it. Isn't Jeff a brick, Teddy?"

"Rather--and, oh, did you bring any oil? We used all ours up."

"We've got a screw-driver, though!" said Freddy.

"And lots of string!" shouted Teddy.

"You _are_ a brick to come and do it," shouted both.

Where in the world is there a tonic equal to the laugh of a light-
hearted grateful little boy? How could Jeffreys help forgetting his
trouble for a time and devoting himself heart and soul to the business
of that tricycle? Trimble, as he dodged along after them perplexed and
puffing, could hardly believe his eyes as he saw his morose colleague
suddenly throw off the burden that was on him and become gay.

"Come along, little chaps--let's see what we can do," said Jeffreys, as
the three strode out to the cottage. "Where is he?"

"In the shed. We've got a candle."

Trimble saw them disappear into the garden, and, guided by their cheery
voices, soon discovered the back of the shed in which the momentous
surgical operation was to take place. It backed on the road, and might
have been built for Trimble's purpose. For the woodwork abounded in
most convenient cracks, through which a spy might peep and listen
luxuriously. What a day Jonah was having!

The Roshers conducted their friend into the place like anxious relatives
who conduct a physician into a sick-chamber. The poor patient lay on
the floor in a very bad way. Two wheels were off, the axle was bent,
the wire spokes were twisted, the saddle was off, and the brake was all
over the place.

Jeffreys shook his head and looked grave.

"It's a bad job," said he.

"You see, we were giving mother a ride on it, and she's too heavy--
especially going downhill. She thought we were holding it, but it got
away. We yelled to her to put on the brake, but she didn't, and it went
bang into the wall."

"And your mother?" inquired Jeffreys, somewhat anxiously.

"Oh, her face is much better now. The doctor says there'l