as they went. Doors opened
suddenly and William's father collided with William's brother in the
dark passage, where they wrestled fiercely before they discovered each
other's identity.

"I heard that confounded noise and I came out----"

"So did I."

"Well, then, who _made_ it?"

"Who did?"

"If it's that wretched boy up to any tricks again----"

William's father left the sentence unfinished, but went with
determined tread towards his younger son's room. William was
discovered, carefully spreading a sheet over his bed and smoothing it
down.

Mr. Brown, roused from his placid slumbers, was a sight to make a
brave man quail, but the glance that William turned upon him was
guileless and sweet.

"Did you make that confounded row kicking boots about the passage?"
spluttered the man of wrath.

"No, Father," said William, gently. "I've not bin kickin' no boots
about."

"Were you down on the lower landing just now?" said Mr. Brown, with
compressed fury.

William considered this question silently for a few seconds, then
spoke up brightly and innocently.

"I dunno, Father. You see, some folks walk in their sleep and when
they wake up they dunno where they've bin. Why, I've heard of a man
walkin' down a fire escape in his sleep, and then he woke up and
couldn't think how he'd got to be there where he was. You see, he
didn't know he'd walked down all them steps sound asleep, and----"

"Be _quiet_," thundered his father. "What in the name of----what on
earth are you doing making your bed in the middle of the night? Are
you insane?"

William, perfectly composed, tucked in one end of his sheet.

"No Father, I'm not insane. My sheet just fell off me in the night and
I got out to pick it up. I must of bin a bit restless, I suppose.
Sheets come off easy when folks is restless in bed, and they don't
know anythin' about it till they wake up jus' same as sleep walkin'.
Why, I've heard of folks----"

"Be _quiet_----!"

At that moment William's mother arrived, placid as ever, in her
dressing gown, carrying a candle.

"Look at him," said Mr. Brown, pointing at the meek-looking William.

"He plays Rugger up and down the passage with the boots all night and
then he begins to make his bed. He's mad. He's----"

William turned his calm gaze upon him.

"_I_ wasn't playin' Rugger with the boots, Father," he said,
patiently.

Mrs. Brown laid her hand soothingly upon her husband's arm.

"You know, dear," she said, gen