n them, and her language was so abusive,
that Miss Bertram sent the boys away, and brought the poor woman to
reason by quiet, persuasive words.

"I will enquire into the matter. I cannot quite understand their motive;
boys are thoughtless, and perhaps their intentions were good. I know
they will be extremely sorry at the result of their visit. If you come
with me to the housekeeper she will give you some good, strong soup for
your husband. I will come and see him myself the first thing to-morrow
morning."

It was not till after she had dined with her mother, that Miss Bertram
sent for her little nephews again, and then she gave them a severer
scolding than they had received from her for a long time. They crept up
to bed that night feeling very woe-begone.

"I'm sure we'd better give up these opportunities," said Dudley,
disconsolately, as they paused at an old staircase window on their way
to their rooms; "you see this is the third one, and they all turn out
badly. There was that tramp who must have got drunk with your sixpence,
and then there was saving me, and that made you so awfully ill, and now
here's this old fellow that perhaps we shall make die. It all goes
wrong, somehow."

Roy looked out of the window with knitted brow.

"I was thinking of that King--Bruce--who saw the spider try three times
and then succeed. We must try again, that's all! I shan't give up yet.
It is really a big opportunity I'm looking for!"

And Roy laid his head down on the pillow that night, steadfastly
purposing to continue his role of benefiting the human race.

V

A LOST DONKEY

Fortunately for the boys, John Cullen got over his fright and took a
turn for the better, but Miss Bertram began to exercise more control
over their many spare hours. She took them out driving with her in the
afternoon, or expeditions by foot; sometimes to some farmhouse to tea,
sometimes to some neighboring squire who had young ones to entertain
them. And Dudley in his happy, careless way soon put all thoughts of
improved opportunities out of his head. He was ready enough to put into
action any proposal of Roy's, but left alone he was perfectly content to
enjoy himself in his own easy fashion; and Roy seemed to be willing to
let the matter rest, as he never now alluded to it.

But one morning two or three weeks later, as the boys were returning
from the Rectory with their satchels in their hands, they met an old man
they knew in deep distre